Who painted A Writer Trimming his Pen?

A Writer Trimming his Pen was painted by Jan Ekels the Younger in 1784.

Where can I see A Writer Trimming his Pen?

A Writer Trimming his Pen is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is A Writer Trimming his Pen?

A Writer Trimming his Pen is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

A Writer Trimming his Pen

Jan Ekels the Younger , 1784

A Writer Trimming his Pen is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Jan Ekels the Younger. It dates from 1784 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

The artist copied the soft light and careful details of older works, even though he probably never saw them in person.

A man sits at a desk, sharpening a quill pen with a small knife. Sunlight spills through a window, lighting up his face and the papers in front of him. The room feels quiet, like he’s been working for hours.

This painting was made in 1784, long after the Dutch artists who first painted scenes like this. The artist copied the soft light and careful details of older works, even though he probably never saw them in person. It’s a quiet nod to the past.

Look up the Rijksmuseum to see more paintings of everyday moments like this.

Overview

A Writer Trimming his Pen is a painting created by Ekels in 1784, exemplifying a genre of interior scenes with figures, characteristic of 17th-century Dutch art.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a man seated at a desk, trimming a quill pen, surrounded by papers, with sunlight illuminating his face and workspace, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation.

Technique & Style

Ekels' work is marked by its use of soft light and attention to detail, recalling the style of 17th-century Dutch masters, such as Metsu and Ter Borch, despite likely not having seen Vermeer's work.

History & Provenance

Ekels was influenced by 17th-century Dutch art during his time in Paris, and upon returning to Amsterdam, he produced this painting, a nod to the earlier tradition.