janssens' paintings are often both signed and dated, with dates ranging from 1646 to 1661. like his teacher van der laemen he was specialized in dance scenes, set inside a house or on an outside terrace. this is where he got the nickname "den danser" or "the dancer". these works contributed to the development of the genre of the conversation piece in the low countries. his representations of elegant companies and balls and the works of peter paul rubens, in particular his "garden of love" (prado museum), were significant for the formation of the genre. in this last work, rubens showed how a garden could be used as a setting for amorous dalliance and courtship.