Cultural pride and economic domination were both major drivers of the Dutch Golden Age.
Genre scenes, portraits, and still lifes were very typical of the Dutch Golden Age. This movement spanned from the late part of the 1500s through about 1670. Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Albrecht Durer (click on the names to learn more) were both very important predecessors to the Dutch Golden Age. After the war between the two was over and Spain formally recognized the Dutch independence, the Dutch Golden Age was born. The Dutch Reformed church also played a large role in the making of the Dutch Golden Age. The Dutch economy was rapidly growing, creating a large and active merchant class.
Jacob Ochtervelt was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for everyday scenes and portraiture. He was a classic painter of this movement. The painting above is A Nurse and a Child in an Elegant Foyer, and was painted in 1663. During the Dutch Golden Age works of everyday scenes and portraits were commissioned, as people wanted art for themselves for their own houses. Featuring the family and everyday activities, this particular painting is a combination of both a genre scene and a portrait. The warm colors and active subject matter make it a perfect example of this movement.
Born in July 15, 1606, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is a Dutch Golden Age painter whose reputation has built a name for his awe-inspiring art. Rembrandt is commonly recognized as both a Dutch Golden Age painter and a Northern Baroque artist. Above in the particular painting, the audience can see the dramatic lighting. Rembrandt was known for fusing together these two movements.
Jan Josephszoon van Goyen was another prolific Dutch Golden Age painter. He painted mostly genre scenes and landscapes. These works would have also been in a home and commissioned by someone for this setting. Above in Jan Josephszoon van Goyen's Winter scene on the Ice, the audience can see the seemingly busy people in their hustle-and-bustle of work. Here van Goyen combines these figures' movement with a breathtaking landscape.
Johannes Vermeer was a very highly acclaimed Dutch artist. His father worked as an art dealer, giving a younger Vermeer a chance to be around and learn about the masters. Vermeer was a Dutch Golden Age artist along with being part of the Northern Baroque movement. Above is Vermeer's The Milkmaid , a mixture of the two movements. Painted in 1657, this work has the subject matter of a Dutch Golden Age piece, but also has many Baroque elements. Vermeer is commonly know as having elements of both movements in his work, and this work is a perfect example.
"The Dutch Golden Age." Youtube, uploaded by Sotheby's, 11 July 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=us4QFxcbqCY. Accessed 15 Feb. 2021.
"Dutch Golden Age Painting - History and Concepts." The Art Story, m.theartstory.org/movement/dutch-golden-age/history-and-concepts/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2021.
Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Global History. 15th ed., Boston, Cengage Learning, 2016.
Liedtke, Walter. "Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/verm/hd_verm.htm (October 2003)
