Who painted As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young?

As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young was painted by Jan Steen in 1673.

Where can I see As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young?

As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young is held by Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What movement is As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young?

As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young

Jan Steen , 1673

As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Steen. It dates from 1673 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jan Steen’s 1673 oil on canvas, titled As the Old Sing, So Pipe the Young, depicts a bustling interior scene illuminated by a single light source. The composition gathers a mixed group of children and adults around a table, engaged in music, drink, and food, conveying a moment of communal merriment.

Subject & Meaning

The painting presents a domestic celebration where generational interaction is central: elders sing while the younger participants mimic them on pipes, suggesting a playful transmission of cultural habits. The inclusion of music, eating, and drinking underscores themes of social cohesion and the pleasures of everyday life.

Technique & Style

Steen employs chiaroscuro to model forms, allowing warm highlights to define faces and objects against deep shadows that recede into the background. This contrast creates spatial depth and a sense of intimacy, while the loose brushwork and lively gestures are characteristic of his genre scenes.

History & Provenance

Created in the late Dutch Golden Age, the work entered the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s workshop, though earlier owners are not documented in the surviving records.

Context

During the 17th century, Dutch painters often portrayed domestic interiors that combined moral instruction with humor. Steen’s oeuvre frequently explored the dynamics of family life, using humor and detailed observation to reflect societal norms and vices.

Legacy

As a representative example of Steen’s genre painting, this work continues to inform studies of Dutch interior scenes and the use of light to convey narrative. Its presence in a major American museum highlights the enduring interest in everyday life depictions from the Dutch Golden Age.