Street Musicians at the Door

Two worlds collide in the entry hall of an upper-class Dutch home. The artist, Jacob Ochtervelt, contrasted the wealthy household, dressed in bright reds and blues, with the beggars at the door, dressed in shades of murky brown. This setting is typical for Ochtervelt, who is credited with the development of the “entrance hall painting.” The space is used to explore the universal human connections between seemingly opposite classes of people. Here, a mother teaches her child to give coins to the industrious musicians.