He loved everyday life, the fun of the tavern, weddings and parties: he loved the celebrations on St. Nicholas's Day and Twelfth Night. And he painted them all with a comic twist. But the elusive Jan Steen was not just a jokesmith, he was a man who knew about art and drama, who was well versed in classical mythology and the Bible. And he was an outstanding painter, with an individual technique and fascinating working methods.