Artwork
A soldier with a wineglass and pipe
A soldier with a wineglass and pipe is a paint painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Lievens. It dates from 1627 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1627, this oil painting portrays a young soldier seated before a modest table, his posture relaxed as he holds a wineglass in one hand and a smoking pipe in the other. Dressed in a brown coat and a feather‑adorned hat, he is set against a warm, muted backdrop that emphasizes the intimate, everyday moment captured by the artist.
Subject & Meaning
The work belongs to the genre‑scene tradition, focusing on a solitary figure engaged in leisurely activity rather than heroic or mythological narrative. The casual gesture and contented expression suggest a moment of private respite, offering insight into the social customs of 17th‑century Dutch soldiers and their moments of relaxation away from duty.
Technique & Style
The painter employs a realistic approach, rendering the textures of fabric, metal, and tobacco with meticulous care. Strong contrasts of light and shadow—chiaroscuro—model the forms, giving the figure a three‑dimensional presence and guiding the eye toward the face and the objects he holds. The palette of earthy tones reinforces the subdued atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The artist, a native of Leiden, was active in Amsterdam where he studied under Pieter Lastman before establishing a career that spanned several European centers. This particular canvas entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of Dutch Golden Age paintings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Lievens (24 October 1607 – 4 June 1674) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who was associated with his close contemporary Rembrandt, a year older, in the early parts of their careers.
