Who painted The Tailor’s Workshop?

The Tailor’s Workshop was painted by Quirijn van Brekelenkam in 1661-01-01.

Where can I see The Tailor’s Workshop?

The Tailor’s Workshop is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is The Tailor’s Workshop?

The Tailor’s Workshop is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of The Tailor’s Workshop?

Museum-quality prints of The Tailor’s Workshop are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Tailor’s Workshop

Quirijn van Brekelenkam , 1661

The Tailor’s Workshop is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Quirijn van Brekelenkam. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures the mundane reality of 17th-century craftsmanship, presenting the tailor and his surroundings as the primary subjects of interest.

The painting depicts an interior scene set within a tailor's workshop, populated by a man, a woman, and the workshop environment itself. As a work of genre art, the piece focuses on the everyday activities and domestic setting of a specific trade rather than a historical or mythological narrative. The composition captures the mundane reality of 17th-century craftsmanship, presenting the tailor and his surroundings as the primary subjects of interest.

The work represents the daily life and labor associated with the tailoring profession in the Dutch Golden Age. By focusing on the figures and their immediate workspace, the artist highlights the social and economic context of the trade during this period.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1661, The Tailor's Workshop is an oil painting on canvas by Quirijn van Brekelenkam. The work measures 66 cm in height and 53.5 cm in width. As a genre scene, the composition depicts a tailor within his workshop environment, accompanied by a female figure.

The piece utilizes standard oil paint application on a fabric support to render the domestic interior and its occupants.

History & Provenance

The Tailor’s Workshop by Quirijn van Brekelenkam is dated 1661, a date supported by both the artist’s inscription and subsequent museum records.

The painting entered the public record in Amsterdam through Adriaan van der Hoop, whose collection was bequeathed to the city in 1854 and subsequently transferred to the Rijksmuseum. Van der Hoop’s ownership is recorded in the museum’s accession files, confirming his possession prior to the bequest.

The Tailor’s Workshop is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it forms part of the Adriaan van der Hoop collection. The work was originally owned by Adriaan van der Hoop before entering the museum's holdings. While the Rijksmuseum is the primary location cited for the painting, the Amsterdam Museum is also associated with the collection in which the work resides.

The inventory reflects its acquisition through the van der Hoop bequest, linking it to this specific historical collection within the Dutch national museum system.

Overview

Quirijn van Brekelenkam's The Tailor’s Workshop, painted in oil in 1661, offers a glimpse into 17th-century Dutch daily life. This genre painting, characteristic of the artist's output, captures an intimate scene within a domestic setting. It exemplifies the detailed observation and narrative focus prevalent in Dutch art during the Golden Age, presenting a quiet moment of labor and interaction.

Context

Created during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by a burgeoning art market and a demand for scenes of everyday life, The Tailor’s Workshop reflects a popular artistic trend. Genre painting, depicting ordinary people engaged in common activities, resonated with the tastes of the prosperous Dutch burghers. Brekelenkam contributed significantly to this tradition, specializing in small-scale domestic interiors that offered viewers relatable narratives.