Artwork
A kitchen
A kitchen is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Olis. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the National Art Gallery of the Netherlands.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
By combining figures with these abundant foodstuffs and utensils, the work functions as both a still life and a narrative snapshot of daily life.
Jan Olis's 1645 oil painting presents a detailed genre scene set within a domestic kitchen. The composition features a man and a woman, likely a cook and another figure, surrounded by an array of provisions that define the space. Specific elements depicted include poultry, various vegetables, and a passglass, a drinking vessel often associated with social interaction or specific measurements in tavern and household contexts.
By combining figures with these abundant foodstuffs and utensils, the work functions as both a still life and a narrative snapshot of daily life. The inclusion of the passglass alongside fresh produce and prepared meat suggests a focus on the material culture of the mid-17th-century household, highlighting themes of sustenance, domestic labor, and the abundance of the kitchen environment.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, typical of mid‑17th‑century Dutch genre scenes. Olis employed the conventional technique of applying thin layers of oil paint to a smooth panel support, allowing fine detail in the depiction of kitchen utensils, poultry, vegetables and the attendant figures. The composition balances a bustling interior with a naturalistic still‑life arrangement, reflecting the genre’s emphasis on everyday activity. The painting’s surface condition appears stable, though specific conservation records are not detailed in the available documentation.
History & Provenance
Jan Olis created the oil-on-panel painting titled A kitchen in 1645. The work, measuring 68.5 by 81.5 centimeters, depicts a domestic scene featuring a cook, a man, a woman, poultry, vegetables, and a passglass. While the specific commission details and original owner are not recorded in the available data, the painting's creation is firmly dated to the mid-17th century.
Over time, the artwork entered the collections of several major Dutch institutions, including the Rijksmuseum, the Dordrechts Museum, and the National Art Gallery of the Netherlands. These holdings indicate a significant exhibition and ownership history within the Netherlands, though the precise chain of custody from the artist to these museums is not detailed in the provided sources.
Overview
Jan Olis, a Dutch Golden Age painter born in Gorinchem in 1610, created A Kitchen in 1645. This oil painting captures a domestic scene within a kitchen, featuring a cook and another figure amidst various foodstuffs. The work exemplifies the genre scenes popular during this period in the Netherlands.
It is currently housed in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, offering insight into 17th-century Dutch daily life and artistic trends.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Olis (1610–1676) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Olis was born in Gorinchem, Netherlands. According to the RKD in 1632, he became a member of the Dordrecht Guild of St. Luke. In 1637, he got married, and during the…
Museum
National Art Gallery of the Netherlands
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