Who painted The Backgammon Players?

The Backgammon Players was painted by Jacob Ochtervelt in 1668.

Where can I see The Backgammon Players?

The Backgammon Players is held by Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection.

What movement is The Backgammon Players?

The Backgammon Players is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

The Backgammon Players

Jacob Ochtervelt , 1668

The Backgammon Players is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Ochtervelt. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection.

About this work

Overview

Jacob Ochtervelt’s oil painting The Backgammon Players, executed in 1668, presents a domestic interior where three figures are absorbed in a game of backgammon. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich and exemplifies the Dutch genre tradition of depicting everyday life with careful observation.

Subject & Meaning

The central scene shows a woman in a bright orange‑white costume, a man in a dark jacket and white shirt, and a young girl holding a small object, all gathered around a low table. The inclusion of a dog and the casual posture of the participants suggest a moment of leisure and familial interaction within a modest household.

Technique & Style

Ochtervelt employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing a single light source from the left to illuminate the figures while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast enhances the texture of fabrics and the gleam of the game board, creating a three‑dimensional effect that draws the eye toward the central activity.

History & Provenance

The painting has remained in public ownership since its acquisition by the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it is displayed among other 17th‑century Dutch works. Its provenance prior to museum purchase is not extensively documented, but the work has been recognized as a representative example of Ochtervelt’s mature period.

Context

Created during the Dutch Golden Age, The Backgammon Players reflects contemporary interest in genre scenes that celebrated middle‑class domesticity. Ochtervelt, a contemporary of Vermeer and De Hooch, often focused on interior spaces where light and everyday objects convey social nuance, aligning this work with broader trends in 17th‑century Dutch painting.