Artwork
The Dissolute Household
The Dissolute Household is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Steen. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Jan Steen paints himself entwining fingers with a serving maid while a reclining woman, possibly his wife, reaches for more wine. Painted around 1663-64, the crowded room shows boys tormenting a sleeping woman, a misbehaving cat, and a Bible trampled on the floor. A hanging basket overhead holds plague clappers, a beggar's crutch, and the jack of spades, warning of poverty and disease.
Overview
Jan Steen's painting, The Dissolute Household, created around 1663–64, presents a chaotic domestic scene imbued with moral commentary. The artist himself appears within the composition, which functions as a farcical portrayal of household disorder and vice. This oil painting serves as a visual sermon, depicting the consequences of a lack of discipline and moral rectitude within a family setting.
Subject & Meaning
A basket suspended overhead contains objects like plague clappers and a beggar's crutch, serving as stark warnings of impending misfortune and poverty.
The painting stages a scene of rampant indulgence and neglect. Jan Steen depicts himself intertwined with a servant, while another woman, possibly his wife, reaches for more wine. Children engage in disruptive behavior, and a trampled Bible, scattered objects, and a mischievous cat underscore a breakdown of order.
A basket suspended overhead contains objects like plague clappers and a beggar's crutch, serving as stark warnings of impending misfortune and poverty.
History & Provenance
The Dissolute Household joined the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1982. This acquisition was made possible through the generous bequest of the Jack and Belle Linsky Collection. The painting is cataloged under the accession number 1982.60.31, marking its place within the museum's extensive holdings.
Legacy
Beyond its artistic merit, The Dissolute Household has achieved a unique cultural prominence in the Netherlands. The painting's title has become an idiomatic expression, with parents frequently referring to a "Jan Steen household" to describe a messy or disorderly home. This enduring phrase reflects the artwork's powerful and recognizable depiction of domestic disarray.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Havickszoon Steen was a Dutch Golden Age painter, one of the leading genre painters of the 17th century.
