A baker and his wife proudly show off their freshly baked goods. An old inscription on the back of the painting gives the couple's name. The boy is also mentioned; he is the painter's son. Jan Steen combined several genres in a single painting. It is simultaneously a portrait, a depiction of a profession, and a still life of bread. The Baker Arent Oostwaard and his Wife, Catharina Keizerswaard, Jan Havicksz. Steen, 1658 #rijksmuseum #amsterdam #art by @rijksmuseum
The process probably hasn't changed much in the intervening years. I wonder if those are pretzels hanging in the background. They're one of my next baking projects.