Famous Dutch Golden Age Paintings

The Dutch Golden Age was a period in history when the Dutch Republic was the most advanced in Europe. This period is dated between the establishment of the Dutch Republic in 1588 to the “Rampjaar” in 1672. The most notable genres of paintings were still lives and landscapes.

Winter Landscape with Skaters Hendrick Avercamp

Dutch artist Hendrick Avercamp created about 100 paintings depicting winter scenes. He was the first Dutch Golden Age painter to focus on these kinds of paintings and they often featured crowded scenes. In this artwork, you can see many people in various positions on ice and buildings and bear trees surrounding the action. The painting can be viewed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

A Woman Playing the Clavichord Gerrit Dou

Dutch artist Gerrit Dou is a painter who received his training in Rembrandt’s studio. He became one of the leading artists of the so-called “Leiden Flijnschilders”. This was a group of painters focusing on depicting things as realistically as possible. In this artwork, you see a young woman at her instrument looking toward the viewer perhaps waiting for someone to join her. The painting can be viewed at Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, England.

View of Haarlem with Bleaching Fields Jacob van Ruisdael

Dutch artist Jacob van Ruisdael was known to be among the leading landscape painters of the Dutch Golden Age. This artwork depicts the Dutch landscape with the city of Haarlem seen in the distance. The city is dominated by the Grote Kerk or St. Bavo’s Church. This painting is at the Kunsthaus Zurich in Zurich, Switzerland.

The Last Drop Judith Leyster

Dutch artist Judith Leyster was considered one of the most renowned portrait painters during this time. She was the first woman in the Guild of Saint Luke in Haarlem. This artwork depicts the loss of self-respect while drunk. The painting can be viewed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the US.

A Dutch Courtyard Pieter de Hooch

Dutch artist Pieter de Hooch created this artwork which is one of his most famous artworks. The painter mostly focused on scenes taking place in or near the vicinity of a house. This painting depicts two cavaliers and a woman drinking as they are accompanied by a little girl holding a pot. In the background are steps leading into the garden and the tower of Nieuwe Kerk in Delft can be seen in the distance. The painting is at Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands

The Dancing Couple Jan Steen

Dutch artist Jan Steen created this artwork which is among her most well-known paintings. He is known for painting some of the most iconic genre paintings during the Dutch Golden Age. In this artwork, he depicts people in a local village having a good time. The composition is centered around the dancing couple with two men playing violins nearby. They are surrounded by other people eating, drinking, and having fun. The painting can be seen at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC the capital of the US.

The Matchmaker Gerard van Honthorst

Dutch artist Gerard van Honthorst created this artwork which is a typical painting by this Dutch Golden Age painter who learned the trade while traveling to Rome, Italy in the early 17th century. The artist was greatly influenced by the paintings of Caravaggio. He created this artwork focusing on artificially lit scenes. The painter became one of the leading artists of the so-called Utrecht Caravaggisti. The painting can be viewed at the Centraal Museum Utrecht, Netherlands.

Girl with a Pearl Earring Johannes Vermeer

Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer created this artwork which has become famous and world renowned. He mostly focused on domestic scenes. It is an easily recognized painting of a young girl in an oriental-style dress with an exotic turban and a pearl earring dangling from one ear. The artwork has been featured in a wide variety of different media. The original painting can be viewed at Mauritshuis The Hague, Netherlands.