Conversation Piece (The Sense of Smell)

Jan Ekels the Younger

Created:
Movement:
1791
Neoclassicism
key Notes:
Domestic interior, Olfactory exploration
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Dimensions:
25 7/8 x 23 1/2 in. (65.7 x 59.7 cm)
medium:
Oil on canvas
Difficulty:
Expert
New game
story of the work:

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Conversation Piece (The Sense of Smell) by Jan Ekels the Younger

Jan Ekels the Younger (1759–1793) was a Dutch painter known for his genre scenes and still lifes, often imbued with a sense of intimacy and domesticity. "Conversation Piece (The Sense of Smell)," created in 1791, exemplifies his skill in capturing the subtleties of human interaction and the sensory experiences of everyday life. This work, executed in oil on canvas, reflects the 18th-century Dutch interest in the five senses, a theme prevalent in the art of the period. Ekels' attention to detail and his ability to convey texture and atmosphere contribute to the painting's enduring appeal. The piece is significant for its contribution to the genre of conversation pieces, which were popular in the Netherlands during this time. Ekels' career, though brief due to his untimely death at the age of 34, left a lasting impact on the Dutch art scene of the late 18th century.

Description of the work:

Conversation Piece (The Sense of Smell) by Jan Ekels the Younger

Created in 1791, "Conversation Piece (The Sense of Smell)" by Jan Ekels the Younger is an oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the Dutch genre scene tradition, focusing on everyday life with meticulous attention to detail. The artwork captures a domestic interior, highlighting the sensory experience of smell through the depiction of figures engaged in a social interaction, characteristic of the late 18th-century European art style.

Artwork Photograph Source:
Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Conversation Piece (The Sense of Smell)