The artwork entitled “Boy Lighting a Pipe” was created by the artist Hendrick Terbrugghen in 1623. It is an oil painting on canvas measuring 67.6 x 55 cm. This painting is an example of the Tenebrism art movement, which is characterized by the use of extreme contrasts of light and dark to produce a dramatic effect. The genre of this painting can be described as genre painting and tronie, a type of work common in Dutch Golden Age painting that focused on expressive faces or characters.
The painting depicts a young boy in the act of lighting a pipe. He is portrayed slightly from the side, focusing intently on the flame he holds in front of him which illuminates his face and the pipe, creating a chiaroscuro effect. This contrast emphasizes the act of lighting and draws attention to the boy’s features and the textures of his clothing. The boy wears a red garment with a loosely fitted white shirt underneath, and his head is adorned with a dark, twisted headband that adds to the rustic character of the scene. His expression appears concentrated and slightly pursed as he performs the task at hand. The background of the painting is subdued and dark, enhancing the focus on the figure and the flame. The initials “HB” followed by the date “1623” are inscribed in the upper-right corner of the painting, serving as the artist’s signature and the date of creation.
