Two Dutch Golden Age exhibitions: Jan Steen in Leiden and Gerard van Honthorst in Utrecht

Two Dutch museums are simultaneously celebrating 17th-century painters with contrasting exhibitions. Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden marks the 400th birthday of Jan Steen (1626-1679) with 'Thuis bij Jan Steen – 400 jaar leven in de brouwerij', focusing on his local Leiden environment. The show highlights Steen's humor, technical virtuosity, and the dualities in his work, alongside recent discoveries and loans from private collections. It also draws attention to the NK-collectie status of key works like 'De waarzegster' (1650-54), 'De dorpsbruiloft' (1653), and 'Christus verdrijft de wisselaars uit de tempel' (1675), which have been under state management since WWII pending possible restitution. Meanwhile, Centraal Museum in Utrecht presents 'Gerard van Honthorst – In alles anders dan Rembrandt', tracing the international career of Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656). Born in Utrecht, Honthorst worked in Rome from 1616, residing in the palazzo of Cardinal Benedetto Giustiniani and his brother Vincenzo, a banker and art collector with works by Caravaggio. After returning to Utrecht, he opened a second studio in The Hague to serve a noble clientele. The exhibition argues for a more nuanced view of 17th-century art beyond Rembrandt's dominance, though the subtitle's comparison is deemed unnecessary. Both shows run in 2026.