The Jan Steen Mystery Finally Explained

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Art deals with all kinds of big questions. It touches on all the big issues, like love, the meaning of life and our place in the universe. And this painting too makes us ponder on one of those. In this case it is the question: Is she getting dressed of undressed?
Strangely, that is a subject people have been arguing over for centuries, and today, you can find out why and join the club. So watch the video and tell me what you think.

[@sandracassinelli5874]

Jan Steen is one of my favorite Dutch artists. I was born in the Netherlands and his raucous scenes bring such happy memories. My Oma used to tell me that mine was a “Jan Steen” house because there was always a party.

[@storiesofart]

My grandmother said the same thing to me!

[@eteixeira3532]

Your videos never cease to amaze me, always bringing something new that I had never thought about! Amazing content as always!

[@storiesofart]

Thank you very much!

[@Bowie.]

Thx. Love this channel.

[@storiesofart]

Thanks!

[@domofswitch]

I am so thrilled I found your channel !!! You are such a great Old Master & Teacher. Jan Steen shadows & exalts you. So well deserved...

[@storiesofart]

Thanks! So glad you found me!

[@NewarkDevil66]

Jan Steeb and Johannes Vermeer, my favorites. I believe she is preparing herself to sleep since the indentations on the calves from the socks are evident and lighting is dim.

[@bev9708]

Ohhh you used the same intro music as the Smarthistory channel, another one of my favourites!!! And what a GREAT choice for your video today... absolutely fascinating!!! I must say that that is an enormously full chamberpot... it looks like quite a few litres of pee there!!! I never thought before you said it that we could book you for a tour or come to a lecture... this is so great to know and the next time I'm in your neck of the woods that will be on the top of my list !!!! Thanks so much Carel!!

[@storiesofart]

oh do they use that too? I thought it sounded familiar. well I guess, I am looking for another intro. but yes, sure, I would love to take you on a tour

[@bev9708]

@@storiesofart I am already looking forward to it!!

[@bimz2710]

as always...interesting topic that's why I always watch your art stories. Keep it up

[@storiesofart]

Thanks, will do!

[@riverwildcat1]

Aren' these the first paintings in history to show common people doing very ordinary things? The Dutch appear to be unusually interested in them. They're done in oil with skill, so they couldn't have been inexpensive. What percentage of paintings are like this? By the 19th Century, in Europe, it was not unusual to see mundane images of unknown and poor people portrayed in other mediums like watercolor. The modernists became very focused on ordinary and even ugly scenes of toil and suffering. Political movements seem to have begun to control the art market. Fascinating subject and well done.

[@storiesofart]

There is a lot to unpack there. Luckily I am making a course where I can talk more about things like that.

[@MariaCarolinaVarela]

I really like your programs. The theme, painting or other, is not only very well dissected, but also shows other versions of the same theme that are in other museums or made by other artists. Your programs go beyond the visit to the original work that a visit to a museum provides.

[@storiesofart]

Thanks! Do you have any favourites you would like me to discus next?

[@deborahscotland8819]

Love this!

[@storiesofart]

So glad you liked it. There is more on the way

[@marianaXXII]

So interesting painting, Carel!! What a difference between the one that is in daylight. We really apreciate more this one because we can appreciate more the intimacy that the painting transmits and the gaze goes directly under the woman's skirt. It must have been a very daring painting for its time. I think that for a man the sex of a woman will always be a mystery. Thank you!!!

[@storiesofart]

You are so welcome!

[@Bowie.]

Her positioning leads me to believe she's removing it.

[@storiesofart]

You just may be right 😉

[@saugeangel6607]

She is clearly getting undressed in my opinion. I think that she would be using both hands to pull the stocking on, as that is the way, that I would do it. I would also use just one hand to pull the stocking off. And to pull a stocking on with just one hand would be quite difficult as your foot would constantly be getting caught on the inside. Try putting a sock on with one hand and you’ll see what I mean. It would be even more difficult with a flimsy stocking. The marks on the top of her legs convince me that the artist was using the marks to further convey that she was taking the stockings off.

[@stickshifter8]

We were lucky enough to secure tickets for the Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum, so the the family is heading to Amsterdam at the end of May. How do we get in touch with you or check your schedule of lectures?

[@storiesofart]

go to my instagram or facebook accounts and dm me

[@user-rn7ms6wy5j]

🙋‍♀️🍀

[@storiesofart]

😃

[@francishouston7775]

Stockings off.

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

Underwear of which 'socks' or stockings are a part are never the last thing a woman of this era would put on. She is obviously undressing. I guarantee it. The only weird thing regarding that is that the pot is full :o and .... the candle is not lit so that certainly complicates things.

[@boscopaolo]

She is getting dressed after a transaction and getting back to work.

[@mariewitse]

Hallo ik ben dronken als Jan Steen en heb 2 telefoons