Who painted Choice between richness and youth?

Choice between richness and youth was painted by Jan Steen in 1663-01-01.

Where can I see Choice between richness and youth?

Choice between richness and youth is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Choice between richness and youth?

Choice between richness and youth is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Choice between richness and youth?

Museum-quality prints of Choice between richness and youth are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Choice between richness and youth

Jan Steen , 1663

Choice between richness and youth is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Steen. It dates from 1663 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a woman and a man positioned near a window, with a box included as a significant prop within the interior setting.

Jan Steen's 1663 painting presents an allegorical genre scene centered on an ill-matched couple, embodying the titular choice between material wealth and youthful vitality. The composition depicts a woman and a man positioned near a window, with a box included as a significant prop within the interior setting. Through these figures and objects, the work functions as a moralizing narrative, inviting viewers to contemplate the consequences of prioritizing riches over the fleeting nature of youth.

The interaction between the disparate characters serves as the primary vehicle for this symbolic exploration of life choices.

Technique & Style

The painting is executed in oil on panel, measuring 63.5 by 51.5 cm. Jan Steen worked in the Dutch Golden Age tradition of genre painting, here blending it with allegorical content. The scene depicts an ill-matched couple, a common theme in Steen's work, showing a woman and man with symbolic props including a box and window. The composition belongs to the genre of the allegorical genre scene, treating moral choice through narrative imagery.

History & Provenance

The painting Choice between Richness and Youth was created by Jan Steen in 1663. Executed in oil on panel, the work depicts an allegorical genre scene featuring an ill-matched couple alongside a man, a woman, a box, and a window. While the specific commission details and the original ownership chain are not recorded in the available sources, the work is currently held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. A version or the primary work is also associated with the Hermitage Museum.

The painting is held by the National Museum in Warsaw, though it was formerly also associated with the Hermitage Museum.

Specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available sources. No exhibition history is documented in the given materials.

Overview

Jan Steen’s oil painting Choice between Richness and Youth, executed in 1663, presents an intimate interior scene. The work is part of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and exemplifies Steen’s genre‑painting focus on everyday moments.