A genre scene depicts everyday life. Through the 19th century, genre scenes held the third level of prestige for painters, after history scenes and portraits. Genre scenes have a strong domestic appeal and have persisted throughout art history.
Johannes Vermeer painted some of the most famous genre scenes. His "Woman Holding a Balance," c. 1664, at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. is a perfect example. Art lovers celebrate Vermeer for his masterful application of lighting and perspective.
Genre painting went away as painters focused on abstraction in the 1900s, but contemporary artists are newly adopting genre painting. For example, American artist Jonathan Gardner paints neo-cubist genre scenes of women at leisure, often smoking cigarettes. Glenn Ness paints genre... Read more
A genre scene depicts everyday life. Through the 19th century, genre scenes held the third level of prestige for painters, after history scenes and portraits. Genre scenes have a strong domestic appeal and have persisted throughout art history.
Johannes Vermeer painted some of the most famous genre scenes. His "Woman Holding a Balance," c. 1664, at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. is a perfect example. Art lovers celebrate Vermeer for his masterful application of lighting and perspective.
Genre painting went away as painters focused on abstraction in the 1900s, but contemporary artists are newly adopting genre painting. For example, American artist Jonathan Gardner paints neo-cubist genre scenes of women at leisure, often smoking cigarettes. Glenn Ness paints genre scenes that recall David Hockney and Edward Hopper, with a minimalist edge. French artist Marc Desgrandchamps paints beach scenes and urban scenes in which the figures fade in and out of existence.
Quick Facts
- Museums deaccess major works of art, and museum ethics dictate the museums utilize funds earned from the sale to benefit their collecting
- The LA Country Museum of Art deaccessioned Pieter de Hooch, "A Woman Handing a Coin to a Serving Woman with a Child," circa 1668-72, selling the painting through Sotheby’s New York in 2009. Pieter de Hooch was a contemporary of Vermeer, and the painting sold for $1.65 million
- Pieter Breughel the Younger, a Dutch painter, was also a master of the genre scene. The Metropolitan Museum of Art deaccessioned The Whitsun Bride, undated, selling it through Christie’s New York in 2012, for $686,500
Read less
April 26, 2018, 11:00 AM EST
Norwood,
MA,
USA
$10 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 11:00 AM EST
Norwood,
MA,
USA
$10 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 2:00 PM PST
Las Vegas,
NV,
USA
$290 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 2:00 PM PST
Las Vegas,
NV,
USA
$2,050 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 2:00 PM PST
Las Vegas,
NV,
USA
$840 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$3,500 (3 bids)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$15,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$6,000 (1 bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$3,000 (2 bids)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$5,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$6,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$12,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$2,500 (3 bids)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$2,500 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$10,000 (17 bids)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$2,500 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$1,500 (1 bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
New Milford,
CT,
USA
$200 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$3,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$1,200 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$1,500 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM EST
Milford,
CT,
USA
$1,500 (1 bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 3:00 PM PST
San Gabriel,
CA,
USA
$100 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 26, 2018, 6:00 PM PST
Victoria,
BC,
Canada
CAD150 (starting bid)
Bid now »
![Lavains, Bouquiniste au bord de la Seine, Paris + Monmartre, Paris, oils on board (2) + Frankfurt, colour etching [3]](https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/bruces/61/622261/H3561-L142404221_mid.jpg)
April 27, 2018, 12:00 PM AEST
Alexandria,
Australia
AUD10 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 12:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD50 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD750 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD1,200 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD1,500 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD3,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD5,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD750 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:30 PM AEST
Sydney,
Australia
AUD150 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP12,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP12,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP20,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP30,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP20,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP55,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP8,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP8,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 2:00 PM PHT
Makati City ,
Philippines
PHP12,000 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€1,200 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€240 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€360 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€720 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€720 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€240 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€360 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€300 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€300 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€4,700 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€4,700 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€700 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 11:00 AM CET
Stuttgart,
Germany
€540 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 12:00 PM CET
Düsseldorf,
Germany
€2,400 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 12:00 PM CET
Düsseldorf,
Germany
€800 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 12:00 PM CET
Düsseldorf,
Germany
€120 (starting bid)
Bid now »
April 27, 2018, 12:00 PM CET
Düsseldorf,
Germany
€330 (starting bid)
Bid now »
