Cornelis Pietersz Bega

Cornelis Pietersz Bega was a Dutch painter and etcher born in 1631 in Haarlem, Netherlands. He was a prominent figure of the Baroque period, known for his genre scenes that often depicted the everyday lives of peasants and the lower classes. Bega was a pupil of Adriaen van Ostade, under whose influence he developed a keen eye for detail and a mastery of chiaroscuro. His works are characterized by their intimate scale and the subtle interplay of light and shadow, contributing significantly to the genre painting tradition in the Dutch Golden Age. Despite his promising career, Bega's life was cut short when he died in 1664, likely due to the plague. His legacy endures through his evocative depictions of 17th-century Dutch life, which continue to be studied for their technical skill and social commentary.