Jan Steen – Woman Playing the Cittern Mauritshuis

Here we observe a half-length portrait of a young woman engaged in playing a cittern, a plucked string instrument. She is positioned slightly off-center, angled towards the viewer with a contemplative gaze directed over her shoulder. The composition is dominated by warm earth tones – browns and ochres – which define both her attire and the background.
The woman’s dress consists of a simple brown bodice and skirt, accented by crisp white cuffs at the wrist and a delicate lace collar. A dark cloak or shawl drapes around her shoulders, its folds carefully rendered to suggest texture and volume. The cittern itself is held close to her body, its wooden form providing a contrast in color and shape against the softness of her clothing.
Her expression is complex; it’s not one of overt joy or performance but rather a quiet absorption in the music. Theres an element of melancholy present, subtly conveyed through the downturned corners of her mouth and the slight furrowing of her brow. The lighting emphasizes this mood, casting shadows that soften her features and contribute to a sense of introspection.
The background is deliberately understated – a muted, indistinct plane that serves to isolate the figure and focus attention on her presence. This lack of detail allows for greater emphasis on the womans character and the implied narrative surrounding her musical activity. The artist’s brushwork appears loose and expressive, particularly in the rendering of the fabric and the instrument, suggesting an immediacy and a degree of spontaneity in the execution.
Subtly, the painting hints at themes of domesticity and leisure within a bourgeois setting. While music-making was often associated with refinement and education, the woman’s simple attire and introspective demeanor suggest a more personal, perhaps even solitary, enjoyment of her pastime. The overall impression is one of quiet dignity and understated elegance, inviting speculation about the circumstances and inner life of this portrayed individual.