Who painted The Miser?

The Miser was painted by Jan Steen in 1650.

Where can I see The Miser?

The Miser is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is The Miser?

The Miser is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of The Miser?

Museum-quality prints of The Miser are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Miser

Jan Steen , 1650

The Miser is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Steen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Jan Steen’s oil painting known as The Miser, executed around 1650, presents a domestic interior populated by an elderly man engrossed in counting his wealth. The work belongs to the genre‑painting tradition, depicting a slice of everyday life rather than a grand historical or religious narrative. It is part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the composition sits a bearded old man in a red cap, his attention fixed on a spread of coins, a heavy purse, and an open ledger. A faint light from a small window illuminates his face, while a skull visible beyond the glass serves as a memento mori, subtly reminding viewers of the transience of material riches.

Technique & Style

Steen employs the typical Dutch Golden Age palette of muted earth tones punctuated by the bright red of the cap and the gleam of metal. The brushwork is fine and detailed, especially in the rendering of individual coins and the texture of the wooden table. Light falls from a single source, creating a chiaroscuro effect that emphasizes the figure’s concentration.

History & Provenance

The painting was created in the mid‑17th century, a period when Steen was prolific in producing genre scenes that combined humor with moral commentary. It entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings in the early 20th century, where it has remained on public display, contributing to the museum’s representation of Dutch genre painting.