Room 26

Start with an exchange between two people, or an object that seems to explain what is happening. A letter, a musical instrument or a shop counter can organise a whole scene. Works here include An Officer dictating a Letter and Gerrit Dou’s A Poulterer’s Shop. Many Dutch painters sold pictures on the open market and became known for particular subjects or skills. A viewer might enjoy the story, admire a painted fabric and recognise a humorous or moral suggestion at the same time. Avoid assigning a fixed meaning to every object. Follow the gestures first, then see which details support your reading of the encounter.