'Rhetoricians at a Window' Analysis

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer studies the art work 'Rhetoricians at a Window' by Jan Steen. The writer notes that this is a painting in the Baroque style. The writer discusses that the painting is one of Steen's best, in its rich attention to detail, mastery of light and elegant choice of colors. In this essay, the writer analyzes the formal attributes of Steen's painting in order to show why this is a superb work of art. The writer concludes that far from being merely a skillful documentary rendering of a social subject, 'Rhetoricians at a Window' is also an accomplished work of art, in that all the formal elements come together in a way that perfectly harmonizes with the subject of the painting.

From the Paper:

"The light in the foreground of the painting is contrasted with the darkness in the back, which is the darkness of the house's interior. We can judge by the lighting that it must be late afternoon - not yet dark enough to light the candles in the house, hence the need to gather by the window in order for the heavier rhetorician to read the text by the fading sunlight.
"A mischievous grin adorns the face of the most striking figure in the center-right of the image, standing directly above the frowning man holding the pitcher. In terms of color, he interrupts the composition in the middle of the painting, which is filled with muddy browns, beiges, whites, and grays - from the clothing worn by the men to the rust colored pitcher. It is the goofy red hat crowning his head that draws our attention to him, which leads our gaze down to his goofy expression and extended finger."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Krajewski, Bruce. Traveling with Hermes: Hermeneutics and Rhetoric. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 1992.

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