Artwork
Merry Company
Merry Company is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Hendrik Gerritsz Pot. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Merry Company is a 1635 oil painting by Hendrik Gerritsz Pot, a Dutch Golden Age artist known for genre scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a group of seven people gathered around a table in a dimly lit room, engaged in activities like playing cards and drinking. A woman in red and a man in orange are prominent, while others observe or converse, accompanied by a quiet dog.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates depth through contrasting shadows and light, while warm colors evoke a cozy atmosphere despite the serious or amused expressions on the figures' faces.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, created by Pot, who was also an officer in the local Haarlem militia, a role captured by Frans Hals in a 1633 portrait.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrik Gerritsz Pot (c. 1580 – 15 October 1657 (buried)) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, who lived and painted in Haarlem, where he was an officer of the militia, or schutterij. Dutch artist Frans Hals painted Pot in…
