In the Stable 1643

David Teniers the Younger painted "In the Stable" using oil paints, a traditional medium at the time. Look at the different objects depicted, from metal jugs to wooden barrels and ceramic pots. Teniers has carefully rendered the texture of each of these materials with paint. Note, too, how the scene is lit, with the bright foreground giving way to darkness at the back. The scene is composed of a series of crafted and agricultural elements that define the space and activities. The painting gives us a glimpse into 17th-century rural life and labor. The detailed depiction of everyday objects provides insight into the material culture of the time. Teniers was fascinated with peasant life, and made it a popular subject of his paintings, opening up conversations on class, labor, and the cultural significance of everyday life. It invites us to consider the artistic value of the everyday, and the social context in which objects and artworks are created.