Genre Painting

Genre painting, also called genre scene or petit genre, is the depiction of subjects and scenes from everyday life, ordinary folk and common activities. Genre paintings appear to be painted from life, but in reality were usually thought up in the artist's studio. Sometimes (but not always!) they contain a moral lesson. In some works the message is clear, in other cases the viewer has to make an effort to interpret the picture. Often, however, these household scenes are simply decorative paintings designed to entertain and amuse.

One common definition of a genre scene is that it shows figures to whom no identity can be attached either individually or collectively - thus distinguishing them from history paintings and portraits. A work would often be considered as a genre work even if it could be shown that the artist had used a known person - a member of his family, say - as a model. In this case it would depend on whether the work was likely to have been intended to be perceived as a portrait by the artist - sometimes a rather subjective question. The depictions can be realistic, imagined, or romanticized by the artist. Because of their familiar and frequently sentimental subject matter, genre paintings have often proven popular with the bourgeoisie, or middle class. It achieved its greatest popularity in seventeenth century Holland (the Netherlands) with the works of Jan Steen (1626-1679) and Jan Vermeer (1632-1675).

History of Genre painting

This style of genre painting first became important 17th-century Holland, where it fulfilled the desire of the middle classes for representational painting that reflected their everyday, secular and commercial lives. Prominent among the Dutch genre painters were de Hooch, Metsu, Steen and Vermeer.

Genre paintings date back to the Egyptian times when their tombs were adorned with paintings of the people from ancient Egypt. Genre paintings resurfaced again in the late Middle ages and were depicted mainly in the religious calendars. During the early Renaissance period in Italy Genre paintings became quite popular. Genre paintings blossomed later on and reached the desired levels of perfection in the works of the Flemish artists Pieter Brueghel the Elder, David Teniers, and Adriaen Brouwer.

The most famous school of Genre painting was that of the Netherlands in the 17th century.

Similarly, French Genre paintings bloomed considerably in the works of Antoine Watteau, Nicolas Lancret, and Jean-Simon Chardin.

Famous Genre painters

Some of the famous genre painters are as follows-

* Pieter Brueghel the Elder

* Adriaen

* Isaac van Ostade,

* David Teniers,

* AelbertCuyp,

* Johannes Vermeer

* Pieter De Hooch

* Pieter van Laer

* Louis le Nain

* William Powell Frith

* Dame Laura Knight

In the 19th century religious and historical subject matter started going went out of use in painting as art practitioners in both United States and America concentrated on depicting the life around them. Even 20th century artists like Pierre Bonnard, Edward Hopper loved portraying scenes from everyday life and gradually this art form entered the realm of greatness.

Genre paintings which were neither ideal in style nor elevated in subject matter became a favorite with painters who wanted to capture the everyday activities of an ordinary soul. Genre paintings provide a glimpse into the mundane activities of the past epoch and "serve as deeply encoded conversation pieces on the mores of the day".