Meal

"Meal" is a compelling genre painting by Jan Steen, created around 1658–1660, and housed in the Mauritshuis since 1936. This oil-on-panel artwork (on wood), exemplifies Steen's intricate style within the lively context of the Baroque period. It depicts domestic life with symbolic undertones, notably using oysters to evoke earthly lust. The painting’s intimate setting highlights Steen's mastery in capturing everyday scenes, blending realism with subtle allegory, characteristic of Baroque art's dramatic expressiveness.