“Jan Steen was the quirkiest artist of the 17th century” (De Volkskrant). That is precisely why his work remains so beloved. Steen was born in Leiden 400 years ago, prompting Museum De Lakenhal to showcase his work. The exhibition was designed by Karen Polder.
Jan Steen’s personal life may not have always been smooth sailing, but as a painter he was highly successful, thanks in part to the humorous touch that characterizes his work. On top of that, he was also a tavern owner and the father of eight or nine children (we don’t know exactly). Try to top that!
In the exhibition, we present him as both a cheerful drinker and the curious, well-read man he also was. It is therefore fitting that the vertical titles, which introduce the various themes in the exhibition, are reminiscent of titles on book spines.
The walls divide the halls into spaces that, in terms of size, resemble the domestic interiors that Steen so often painted. Details from his work are displayed on the outer surfaces of these walls, while his paintings can be viewed in peace and quiet within the spaces.
The modular walls were borrowed from Museumgoed, and the display case comes from a previous exhibition at Museum De Lakenhal—so everything has been reused. The goal was to create an exhibition design that was as specific as possible while using as little new construction as possible.
Exhibition ‘At Home with Jan Steen – 400 Years of Merrymaking’
Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden
April 2 – August 23, 2026
lakenhal.nl
Exhibition and graphic design: Karen Polder
Production: Museumgoed, Iris Vormgeving, PPS imaging, and Van Zijderveld
Lighting: Beersnielsen lighting designers
Font: LTR Principia by LettError Type
Photography: Karen Polder, Joep Jacobs
