Jan van Eyck was a painter active in Flanders in the first half of the 15th century, and is a representative painter of the Northern Renaissance. Considered one of the " founders of oil painting ," his meticulous realism and brilliant colors astonished his contemporaries and contributed greatly to the development of Western painting. His outstanding skills were particularly evident in his altarpieces and portraits, in which he pursued the depiction of humans and nature as they really were, yet ideally.

Jan van Eyck Biography

• Born around 1390 in Maaseijk in what is now eastern Belgium (there are various theories about the year of his birth)
• From about 1422 he served as court painter to John III, Count of Hainaut and Count of Holland.
• In 1425, he became the court painter and bailiff of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and also served as a diplomatic envoy.
• 1432: Completed the Ghent Altarpiece (collaboration with his brother Hubert)
• 1434: Created the "Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple"
• Died in Bruges before July 9, 1441 (aged around 50)

Representative works

• Ghent Altarpiece (1432)
• Arnolfini Portrait (1434)
• Madonna of Chancellor Rolin (c. 1435)
• "The Descent from the Cross" (c. 1435-1440) (different from the one in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum)
• The Annunciation (c. 1434-1436)

The Art of Jan van Eyck

The greatest feature of Jan van Eyck's art is its astonishingly detailed realistic expression . He improved the oil painting technique, achieving colors with unprecedented transparency and brilliance. This new oil painting technique made it possible to paint every detail in minute detail and pursue the expression of texture and light to the utmost. In addition to faithfully reproducing reality, he also imbued his works with symbolic meaning, giving them a deep spirituality. In his altarpieces, he portrayed religious themes as realistic as earthly events, and in his portraits, he tried to depict not only the model's appearance but also their inner self. This is why he is called the " founder of oil painting ."

Jan van Eyck's influence and later recognition

Jan van Eyck's precise realism and innovation in oil painting techniques had a major impact on Western painting as a whole. His works astonished his contemporaries and became the driving force behind the Golden Age of Flemish painting. His influence extended to the Italian Renaissance, where many artists learned Jan van Eyck's techniques. Today, Jan van Eyck is highly regarded around the world as a master of the Northern Renaissance . Keywords such as " founder of oil painting ," " precise realism ," " Flemish painting ," " Early Netherlandish ," and " Ghent Altarpiece " are important elements in understanding Jan van Eyck's art. His works continue to fascinate many people as an important legacy in the history of Western art.