The Dancing Lesson

 This piece is entitled "Teaching a Cat to Dance", but is also known as, "The Dancing Lesson" created by Jan Steen from 1665-1668. Jan Steen created this art piece through oil painting on panel. 

This piece depicts children playing with a cat, gleefully laughing and playing the clarinet while an older man peers through the window, likely telling them to pipe down. 

I love this painting because it elicits a feeling of joy, I feel as though I can hear this little boys laugh, I can hear the cat screeching, and can imagine the dog barking and jumping with joy. This art piece does not need too much explaining, you can already guess what is going on in this painting. 

The emotions are depicted beautifully in each of the faces in this painting. Unlike the stoic or blank expressions found in Renaissance art, the artist brought these characters to life. And you, the viewer are enticed into the painting. Wilcox, whos article I have referenced below, states that Baroque art tries to draw the viewer into the scene. I can see this influence in this painting. 

True to Baroque style, this painting seems as though it was a photo, capturing a fleeting moment as the boy on the left laughs and the dog braces to leap up with joy. Even the way that the girls legs are positioned, it seems as though she just sat on the table and is pulling her legs up into a comfortable position. 

I can see the diagonal lines throughout this painting. From the lines in the floor board to the way that the girls legs are positioned to the little arch in the laughing boys back. These give the painting a more natural feel. The characters are comfortable in each others presence and are interacting naturally and not within confined lines. You can see how the children are leaning in toward each other and the glances that they are giving each other. 

There are beautiful gradients between the colors that transition perfectly. The dark colors, like the shadows underneath the table are extremely dark. While the white colors are very bright, like the girls skirt or the table cloth that is draped over the right side of the table. This gives the painting a dramatic feel. Wilcox highlights the dramatic contrast between light and dark as characteristic of Baroque style.

References:

Rijks Museum. Children Teaching a Cat to Dance, know as "The Dancing Lesson', Jan Havichsz. Steen, 1660-1679. https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search/objects?p=1&ps=12&f.principalMakers.name.sort=Jan+Havicksz.+Steen&st=Objects&ii=5#/SK-A-718,5

Wilcox, M. (2019). How do you identify Baroque. Colors-New York. https://colors-newyork.com/how-do-you-identify-baroque/