Artwork
Sense of Smell
Sense of Smell is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen van Ostade. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Adriaen van Ostade’s 1635 oil painting titled Sense of Smell captures a quiet domestic moment. The work presents a man and a woman caring for an infant, set within a modest interior illuminated by a soft, warm light that streams from the left side of the canvas. The composition is modest in scale and resides in the State Hermitage Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The scene focuses on everyday life: a father holds a smoking pipe while the mother tends to the baby’s diaper, suggesting routine chores and familial intimacy. The title alludes to the olfactory dimension of the setting, hinting at the subtle scents of domesticity that accompany such private moments.
Technique & Style
Van Ostade employs chiaroscuro to model forms, using the contrast between light and shadow to give volume to the figures and objects. The muted palette and careful handling of oil paint convey the texture of wood, fabric, and skin, while the subtle glow enhances the sense of depth within the cramped interior.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑17th century, Sense of Smell entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains on display. The painting exemplifies van Ostade’s interest in genre scenes that document the daily life of the Dutch middle class, reflecting the artist’s broader oeuvre of similar domestic subjects.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen van Ostade (baptized as Adriaen Jansz Hendricx 10 December 1610 – buried 2 May 1685) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of genre works, showing the everyday life of ordinary men and women.
