Artwork
Junges Paar bei nächtlichem Imbiss
Junges Paar bei nächtlichem Imbiss is an oil painting by Matthias Stom. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Created circa 1640, this oil painting shows a young man and woman sharing a modest evening repast.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1640, this oil painting shows a young man and woman sharing a modest evening repast. The couple sit at a simple table illuminated solely by a candle, which casts strong light and deep shadows across the scene. The work belongs to the collection of Kunsthaus Zürich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures an intimate domestic moment: the man, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and dark shirt, holds a glass and the candle, while the woman in a white shirt and brown vest reaches toward an object on the table. The quiet, nocturnal setting suggests a private, perhaps romantic, encounter.
Technique & Style
Stom employs dramatic chiaroscuro, a hallmark of his Italian-influenced approach, to model the figures and create spatial depth. The stark contrast between illuminated faces and enveloping darkness heightens the sense of immediacy and focuses attention on the couple’s gestures.
Context
Although chiefly known for biblical subjects, the Dutch or Flemish painter Matthias Stom produced a limited number of genre scenes like this one. His work reflects the influence of Caravaggisti, especially the Utrecht school, as well as artists such as Jusepe de Ribera and Peter Paul Rubens, whose dramatic lighting he adapts to everyday themes.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on view. Its attribution to Stom is based on stylistic analysis linking it to his mid‑17th‑century output in Italy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer (c. 1600 – after 1652) was a Dutch, or possibly Flemish, painter who is only known for the works he produced during his residence in Italy. He was influenced by the work of non-Italian…
