Artwork
A Man and Woman Singing
A Man and Woman Singing is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelis van Haarlem. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Man and Woman Singing is a 1620 oil painting by Cornelis van Haarlem, a prominent Northern Mannerist in the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a man and woman standing together, singing. Their serious expressions and somber, dark background convey a contemplative mood, characteristic of Dutch genre scenes from the period.
Technique & Style
Van Haarlem's composition features contrasting attire and postures, with the man's casual gesture (arm around the woman) juxtaposed against the woman's more subdued, clasped hands. The dark background highlights the figures, a common technique in Northern Mannerism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1620, the painting is now part of the collection at the State Hermitage Museum.
Context
This work reflects van Haarlem's influence on the development of Dutch portraiture, preceding Frans Hals, and aligns with the era's fondness for everyday life scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Corneliszoon van Haarlem (Dutch: ; 1562 – 11 November 1638) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and draughtsman, one of the leading Northern Mannerist artists in the Netherlands, and an important forerunner of Frans Hals as a…
