Genre painting was born in the 17th century in the West as a way to distinguish paintings other than historical paintings, and it still has a strong appeal today because of its frank and humorous depiction of everyday life and customs.
Genre paintings depict anonymous people and small events that are common in everyday life. But how did genre painting come to be called genre painting? In the 17th century, there was a clear tendency in the West to categorize the subjects of paintings, and a strict distinction was made between history and non-history genres, with genre painting referring to all paintings that fell into the non-history genre. Eventually, the practice of making a clearer distinction between portraits, landscapes, still lifes, and so on became established, and the rest of the paintings that didn’t get a name were left as genre paintings.
Genre paintings are similar to our folk paintings in that they depict everyday life and customs, reflecting various aspects of the history, culture, life, and aesthetics of the time, and because of this, they have a strong appeal and are alive and well today. Genre paintings are also similar to our folk paintings in that they are full of humor, sarcasm, and wit, capturing interesting subjects with keen observation and expressing them honestly and wittily. We can feel the humor, sarcasm, and playfulness in the silly and foolish behavior of the characters in genre paintings, the ridiculousness of the laughs, and the abnormal lives of the human group.
It’s this genuine understanding of life and its ability to reveal it in a humorous way that has made genre painting so beloved by people, even when it seems unassuming and unpretentious. Seventeenth-century Dutch genre painting in particular is warm without being grandiose, sincere without being lofty, and that’s why it touches us so deeply. Of course, underneath that emotion, we are sometimes confronted with scenes that expose the pettiness and misery of life, which makes us think anew about the tragedy of reality. But reality is not always depicted as tragic, because there is a humor that wraps it in human flavor and laughter.
The humor in genre films is actually based on certain moral ideas, so if you pay attention to the iconic props in genre films, you can discover the moral lessons behind them. For example, paintings that frequently feature bottles of wine or banquet scenes often have a message that criticizes or warns against the drinking culture of the time. These symbols reflect the moral standards of the society of the time and leave a lasting impression on the viewer.
In the modern era, as bourgeois civil society grew, genre painting helped spread capitalist and civic ethics by emphasizing rational living attitudes, such as hard work and work ethic, and criticizing ostentatiousness and immorality. For example, scenes of housewives performing household chores or merchants running their shops emphasized the virtues of hard work and thrift, and these images were intended to send a positive message to society at large. Through this process, genre painting became more than just a work of art; it became an important medium for conveying social lessons and ethics.
Before the advent of genre, only things like religion, mythology, and history were considered worthy. Secular, everyday life was considered unworthy of depicting because it was not imbued with any greatness or sublimity. However, genre painters recognized that what was worthwhile lay not beyond the everyday, but within it. They sought to find meaning in life itself. This is why genre painting has become so prominent in the history of Western art: it is not simply a record of everyday life, but a mirror that reflects the social, cultural, and moral values of its time.
From this perspective, genre painting has many lessons for today’s viewers. For those who are still searching for meaning in their lives, genre paintings are a great source of inspiration. The simple daily routines of the people in the paintings resonate with modern people and allow them to find simple happiness in their own lives.
Even today, genre paintings are considered an important source for glimpses into the lives of people of that time, allowing us to experience what life was like in the past. Genre painting is an art form that is intimately connected to our lives, acting as a bridge between the past and the present. As such, genre art is more than just a picture; it conveys timeless values.
They are also valued as important sources that reflect the cultural diversity and social changes of each era. They are not just a record of past lives, but also provide important clues to understanding the present and future. Through the characters and their daily lives, we can gain a deeper understanding of the culture of each era, which can help us analyze and solve problems in modern society.
In the end, genre art is an important artistic asset that connects the past, present, and future, providing us with endless inspiration. The value of genre is timeless and will continue to be appreciated by many for years to come.
