Baroque Blog

 

Jolly Toper painted by Judith Leyster c. 1629

Judith Leyster (1609-1660) was a Dutch Baroque artist from Haarlem, Netherlands.  She specialized in genre scenes, or in other words, she painted ordinary people doing everyday activities.  This style of painting is what associates her work with the rise of the merchant class.  She is known for her upbeat, informal paintings of happy musicians and rowdy groups of people, as well as still lifes.

In the Jolly Toper, Leyster’s first known signed work, she captures the image of a man who had just finished his drink and has a pipe on the table in front of him.  She was a mere 20 years old when she painted this painting. As in the Baroque style, she uses shadows, the tilt of his head as if he is trying to keep his beret on, and the placement of the jug to show the actions taking place.  Leyster has other important works of art, including a self-portrait, that all have a distinct style which includes a lot of grays and browns and the selection of subjects which are all everyday people.  

Leyster painted most of her paintings between 1629 and 1635.  She married Jan Miense Molenaer, who was also an artist in 1636.  Upon marriage, her number of paintings decreased when she devoted her time to her family and managing her husband’s studio.  Leyster’s work was well known by her contemporaries but mostly forgotten after her death.  Her work was actually attributed to Frans Hals or to her husband, Jan Miense Molenaer.  It wasn’t until 1893 that Leyster was credited with her work when an expert found Leyster’s signature mark on a painting sold to the Louvre.  It had been hidden under the signature of Frans Hals.  Right around this time a Dutch art historian reattributed a half dozen other paintings to Judith Leyster.

I think Leyster’s use of art elements is what I find attractive.  She brings the subject to life with color and tone while she uses texture to capture the softness of the feather in his hat.  His face is vibrant, and his facial features are perfectly shaped and proportional.  I was also drawn to this artist because she was one of the first female artists to become a master painter.  I enjoy the fact that Leyster was a trailblazer for other female artists.    

Works Cited

“Judith Leyster.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Jan. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Leyster.

“Judith Leyster Paintings, Bio, Ideas.” The Art Story, www.theartstory.org/artist/leyster-judith/#:~:text=Leyster’s%20jovial%20subjects%20appear%20to,symbolic%20meaning%20in%20their%20work. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

Gaffney, Erika. “Judith Leyster, Leading Star: The Rediscovery of a Woman Artist.” Art Herstory, 25 June 2024, artherstory.net/judith-leyster-leading-star/.

“Judith Leyster (1609-1660).” Mauritshuis, www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/our-masters/judith-leyster#:~:text=Judith%20Leyster%20of%20Haarlem%20was,’%20by%20the%20painters’%20guild. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.