Tailor’s shop

The Dutch painter van Brekelenkam painted tailors in their shops as well as weavers, spinners and seamstresses, mainly the trades that flourished in the textile industry in Leiden, where he painted in the 17th century. He repeated the same basic composition of the tailor seated cross-legged in front of the window with two assistants, but changed and rearranged the layout of the interior and added various details. As a rule, the tailor is the only character who looks up from his work, attracting the viewer’s attention and giving him the sensation of being a potential customer while the rest of the group diligently go about their work. Despite being set in an imaginary setting, the interiors of craft workshops were generally conceived in the house-workshops where the apprentices, and in some cases the family for certain tasks, worked under the orders of the master craftsman.

Collection: Images

Project: 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity., 8. Women and the change for gender equality in Europe.

Chronology: XVII

Scope: Secondary education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/quiringh-van-brekelenkam-interior-of-a-tailors-shop

Resource type: Image

Format: Oil on panel (42,7 x 50 cm)

Source: National Gallery of London (Londres)

Language: English

Date: 1655-61

Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)