Jan Steen is known for his genre paintings (scenes of daily life), which were very popular in the 17^th century, especially with the Dutch.

Steen’s works were often very busy, with a lot of things happening at once, so much so that a new term evolved: a "Jan Steen household” referred to a chaotic or messy scene. This term (een huishouden van Jan Steen) is still in use today in the Netherlands. His work, The Dissolute Household, at the Met is a perfect example of this, as is Beware of Luxury, at the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

The English translation of Jan Steen’s painting, Stoeiend Paar, is A Frolicking Couple; I guess that’s one way of putting it, because it looks like they’re about to engage in a bit more than “frolicking.” Some might say the guy in the painting looks lecherous, or maybe even a little rape-y, but I don’t know if I’d go quite that far (well, maybe the lecherous part checks out). Of course, the woman looks somewhat randy herself.

Either way, there’s a lot going on here in terms of symbols in this work. For instance, just the woman being shown outdoors in this situation could mean she had “questionable morals” and imply some sort of sexual situation. That’s kind of rough, but the Dutch could be pretty judgmental back then. Then again, the couple in this painting are clearly moving toward more than an “implied” sexual situation; the open door on the birdcage symbolizes a loss of virginity, so no newbies here!

Foods were big in symbolism for Dutch genre and still-life paintings, and this one is no different; the turnip and the pot represent the human sexy parts. Last, but certainly not least, the rabbit has long been the symbol for fertility.

 This painting has a pendant (another painting that is meant to be displayed alongside) that is in a private collection; that one shows a couple under a dovecote (a house for doves), which represents an “orderly love,” as opposed to simple wanton lust and frolicking activities of this less demure pair.