How does this artwork elucidate its Subject?
During the 1600s in the Dutch Republic, the art market had been dominated by landscapes, portraits, genre works, and still lifes. Genre scenes depicting boys and teenagers, which have been set in a trend dominated by Michael Sweerts.
During the 17th century in the early modern Netherlands, conveying the five senses in artistic series became as popular as depicting the four seasons, the four elements, and the four temperatures. During this period in time, there was philosophical interest about how people interacted with the world. The five senses were seen as a way for people to gain knowledge about the world around them and how it was viewed. Considering other artists; Jan Brueghel and Peter Paul Rubens have painted The Five Senses, their main pieces consisted of women models in landscapes. Wautier set herself apart by using young, teenage boys as her main focus for the five senses. This was a time period where people were looking at the world around them.
landscapes paint Peter Paul Rubens portraits still lifes. four seasons Jan Brueghel The Five Senses Michael Sweerts four elements