Artist and Apprentice

Take a long look at the painting pictured here. What do you see? There are three figures standing in a room, two near the table in the center and one peering through the open door along the back wall. There are pots, pans, dishes, fruits, and vegetables scattered on the floor and table. There is also a dog and a pair of shoes. Can you find them?

We are looking into the studio of an artist as he prepares to paint a still life. A still-life painting is an arrangement of objects like the ones we see here. The artist stands on the left and points to something beyond the edges of the painting. Beside him a boy arranges the objects for the still life.

Around the time this painting was made (1643), hopeful artists learned their art-making skills by working in the studio of a master artist. Someone who worked for a master artist was called an apprentice. An apprentice would grind pigment and mix paint for the master artist, who would teach him painting techniques in return. Sometimes an apprentice was allowed to sharpen his painting skills by helping the master artist create a painting.

The artist in this painting chose as the subject of his still life an arrangement of fruits and vegetables. If you were the artist, what would you choose?

You can see this painting in the Northern European art galleries on the second level of the Ahmanson Building  at LACMA.

Search Collections Online for other artworks by David Teniers the Younger and Jan Davidsz de Heem.

Image above:
David Teniers the Younger (Holland, 1606-1684) and Jan Davidsz de Heem (Flanders, 1610-1690), An Artist in His Studio, 1643, oil on oak panel, 19 x 25 ¼ in. (48.3 x 64.1 cm), M.72.67.1, gift of H. F. Ahmanson and Company in memory of Howard F. Ahmanson, photo © 2004 Museum Associates/LACMA.

Text prepared by the Education Department, LACMA, for the “Kids’ Reading Room” (Los Angeles Times, December 24, 2003).

Welcome to Artwork of the Month! Visit this page every month to explore a new treasure from LACMA's extensive collections.

Artwork of the Month is intended for children but can also be a fun resource for students, teachers, and families who want to learn more about artworks in LACMA's permanent collection and special exhibitions.