Artwork
The ill-matched couple
The ill-matched couple is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Joannes de Cordua. It dates from 1688 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
The Ill-Matched Couple is a 1688 oil painting by Joannes de Cordua, a Flemish artist active in Vienna and Prague.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts an older bearded man and a younger man seated together, conveying a sense of contrast through their differing attire and expressions. The older man's hand on the younger man's shoulder suggests a relationship, but their mismatched emotions imply tension or unease.
Technique & Style
De Cordua's use of chiaroscuro creates a striking contrast between light and dark, highlighting the subjects' faces and emphasizing their emotional disparity. The dark, arched background frames the pair, adding depth to the composition.
History & Provenance
De Cordua worked during the Dutch Golden Age, producing a diverse range of works including still lifes, peasant scenes, and portraits. The Ill-Matched Couple is an allegorical work from this period, created in 1688.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joannes de Cordua or Johann de Cordua (c. 1630–1702) was a Flemish painter who was mainly active in Vienna and Prague. He is known for his still lifes, peasant scenes, portraits, and biblical themes.
Dutch courtship
Scene in a Tavern
Interior țărănesc cu băutori (în registrul inventar: Oameni băuți într-o cârciumă de țară)
Peasants Warming Themselves
A Woman Mending a Stocking
Market Woman with a Boy and Herring in a Window
Old Man and Woman
Two Ages
Two grinning men behind a table with a pewter, glass of wine and bread
Old Man and Woman