Definition of Genre Painting

In the art world the term painting from gender refers to the representation of scenes of daily life, such as housework, still lifes or any thematic that represents reality as it is.

This pictorial trend has existed since the most remote times, since costumbrist scenes already appear in the art of Ancient Egypt and in Greek and Roman painting. However, genre painting reached its peak of splendor in the 17th century in the Netherlands.

Features of genre painting

The painter realistically reproduces everyday life in its true essence. In this sense, the painter acts as a photographer who leaves a testimony of a scene ordinary, like a popular party or a family image.

In the history of art, genre painting has been considered a trend of less relevance than others. Thus, painting with a historical, religious or mythological message has had greater recognition. artistic.

From the 17th century on, scenes with ordinary characters acquired a greater prominence. These works can have two approaches: to record a social reality or to transmit an allegorical message that goes beyond appearances.

Genre painting has a testimonial value, because through it we can learn about social problems, daily life or the different forms of leisure of a time.

Examples of genre painting

The Flemish painter Jan van Eyck shows us in his work "The Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife" a couple at the time of contracting marriage. Both are portrayed in the foreground and objects from everyday life are observed in the background.

Jerónimo Bosch, better known as El Bosco, was one of the first artists to paint scenes from ordinary life. In his work "The traveling salesman" a low-income character appears. extraction Social.

The Spanish Diego Velázquez also represented worldly scenes. An example of this is his work "El aguaador de Sevilla", in which an old water carrier offers a crystal goblet to a Teen.

In the oil on panel "The Parable of the Blind" by the Flemish painter Pieter Brueghel there are six blind men walking in row. Most art historians argue that this painting refers to a biblical passage in which Jesus Christ symbolically referred to the blind who accompany other blind people and who finally provoke a misfortune.

Photo: Fotolia - Juulijs