Breakfast 1660

Gabriel Metsu painted this oil on canvas titled 'Breakfast', portraying a moment of domesticity and exchange. The woman, adorned in luxurious furs, holds a letter, a symbol rife with historical weight. Letters, like illuminated manuscripts of old, became potent conveyors of information and emotion, binding individuals across distances. Consider the horn on the table, an ancient symbol of abundance and festivity. Throughout history, horns have appeared in mythologies and rituals, from the cornucopia of Greco-Roman art to ceremonial drinking horns in Viking culture. Over time, the horn has morphed from a sacred object to a decorative one. Here, the exchange between the figures evokes complex dynamics—perhaps courtship, negotiation, or a transaction of intimacy. The intimate scene engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Ultimately, Metsu’s work reminds us that symbols carry memories, evolving and resurfacing in unexpected ways across time.