Who painted Der Scherenschleifer?

Der Scherenschleifer was painted by Jan Baptist Weenix in 1641.

Where can I see Der Scherenschleifer?

Der Scherenschleifer is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Der Scherenschleifer?

Der Scherenschleifer is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Der Scherenschleifer

Jan Baptist Weenix , 1641

Der Scherenschleifer is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Baptist Weenix. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Jan Baptist Weenix painted *Der Scherenschlefer* in 1641, a work that exemplifies the Flemish Baroque sensibility within the Dutch Golden Age. Executed on a modest scale, the canvas presents a quiet scene of everyday life set against the backdrop of a crumbling structure, inviting contemplation of transience and the ordinary.

Subject & Meaning

The composition gathers several figures around a dilapidated building: a seated woman on a step, a standing man bearing a barrel, a child positioned before a man seated on a cart, and a dog among scattered birds. The surrounding ruin and weathered cart convey a mood of decline, suggesting themes of impermanence and the humble activities of common folk.

Technique & Style

Weenix employs a restrained palette of muted tones, allowing the chiaroscuro to model forms and generate spatial depth. Light falls on the principal figures, while the shadows recede into the ruined architecture, creating a three‑dimensional effect that emphasizes the tactile quality of stone, wood, and flesh.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s focus on Dutch and Flemish Baroque works, and it stands as a representative example of Weenix’s mid‑size figure paintings that helped introduce such group scenes into Dutch artistic practice.