

Like to Like
1640 - 1645
At the end of the 15th century, Netherlands artists such as Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516) and Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1527-1569) helped create the tradition, still alive far into the 17th century, of illustrating proverbs and other popular wisdom. Jordaens was one of the last great practitioners of the genre.
The illustration of the proverb
In order to leave no doubts as to the picture’s contents, the artist has illustrated the point that one should stick with one’s own class by presenting four couples, each of them personifying the simple message with almost demonstrative didacticism.
All are seated around a table, their faces turned to us as though on a stage. On the floor is a boy with a dog (or the other way around) and a girl with a doll; to the right is a pair of young lovers locked in a tender embrace; in the middle an elderly married couple sings; and to the left we see a friar and a nun, an odd couple, perhaps – and yet!
Another motif - another proverb
On closer inspection, perhaps this picture also incorporates another motif: an illustration for a proverb often used by Jordaens: ”As the old sing, so the young pipe”, as the little boy and girl purse their lips, seemingly mimicking the old people’s song. In another of the artist’s pictures the proverb is illustrated very literally: the girl plays a whistle, while the boy smokes a pipe.
The illustration of the proverb
In order to leave no doubts as to the picture’s contents, the artist has illustrated the point that one should stick with one’s own class by presenting four couples, each of them personifying the simple message with almost demonstrative didacticism.
All are seated around a table, their faces turned to us as though on a stage. On the floor is a boy with a dog (or the other way around) and a girl with a doll; to the right is a pair of young lovers locked in a tender embrace; in the middle an elderly married couple sings; and to the left we see a friar and a nun, an odd couple, perhaps – and yet!
Another motif - another proverb
On closer inspection, perhaps this picture also incorporates another motif: an illustration for a proverb often used by Jordaens: ”As the old sing, so the young pipe”, as the little boy and girl purse their lips, seemingly mimicking the old people’s song. In another of the artist’s pictures the proverb is illustrated very literally: the girl plays a whistle, while the boy smokes a pipe.
- License:
- Courtesy of the National Gallery of Denmark
- For more:
- http://www.smk.dk/en/explore-the-art/highlights/jacob-jorda…
More from this artist...
-
6280
-
5710
You may also like...
-
A Merry Company 164412851
-
Danger 1887567832
-
On the Stile 1878352517
-
Before 1731566911
-
After 1731475711
-
The Green Hill 1878262116
-
Four Boys on a Beach 1873189611
-
27859
-
The Battle of Love 188027288
-
Music 201330127
-
1058825
-
1050117
-
On the Trail 1892250416
-
Fresh Eggs 1874275714
-
A Criminal Case 1865299611
-
Young Hare 1502319511
-
51156