I really enjoy this painting. It shows the simple joy of youth and an innocence. I have a young son and I love to see him smile and show his emotions. They are so true and genuine. That is what I see in the children s expressions. Judith Leyster has captured the image of joyous children, and many people, parents especially, can appreciate that. But is there more to this painting than that? Read on for more insight!
This oil on oak painting was completed in 1635 in the Netherlands.
Judith Leyster was one of the few women painters in a century predominantly interested in male artists. She was born in Haarlem, Netherlands. She came under the influence of Terbrugghen, a painter of religious pictures and one of the most important Dutch followers of Caravaggio. Her dramatic lighting style is unique and dramatic. In 1628, Leyster began to be known as a painter, and in 1633 she became a member of the Haarlem Guild. Judith Leyster’s style closely resembled that of Hals (a Dutch Golden Age painter), and her choice of subjects was very similar to his in many of her works. She painted still life and genre portraits of entertainers and tavern habitués in a quite masculine style. A teacher of other artists, Judith Leyster was highly esteemed by her contemporaries and enjoyed a successful career.
The influence I see to fit “A boy and a girl with a cat and an eel” the most would be the rise of the merchant class during the post Thirty Year War time period. The children are not peasants nor royalty as to be guessed by their clothing. They are somewhere in the upper middle class close to the merchant class. This and other works by Leyster feature this merchant class and their everyday activities. As a result of The Thirty Year War, the Netherlands gained freedom and became a sovereign nation. This newly found independence allowed for the dutch to join in the world of politics and world trade. A new merhcant class arised and with it the desire to own art and paintings.
It has recently been suggested that this painting serves as a warning against foolish and mischievous behaviour. The boy has used the small eel to entice the cat into his grasp. He then withholds the bait, while the girl teases the cat further by pulling its tail. Judging by its extended claws the cat is about to scratch the boy. The picture thus seems to allude to the Dutch saying: ‘He who plays with cats gets scratched’, meaning he who looks for trouble will get it. It was common in Dutch 17th-century painting to use children in order to point out the foolish behaviour of adults.
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Leyster
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/leysterinfo.shtm
http://www.nndb.com/people/332/000040212/
http://emn.sharonhoward.org/2006/03/woman-of-the-day-judith-leyster/
dannerak 
Very well done. You have presented everything that was required for this assignment and more. I agree with the recent suggestion that the painting is to serve as a warning against foolish behavior. The cat indeed looks as it it is going to scratch the boy. I really enjoyed reading this.
I also picked Judith Leyster as for the focus of my assignment, but I picked a different painting- depicting a young flute player. I think the emotions on these children’s faces is what makes this painting special. I really enjoyed reading about her life history and her influences; it is really interesting to me how a woman came to be so well-known in this time of male artists. One aspect that you present that I didn’t pick up on was the influence of the 30 Year’s War on her painting, in addition to the merchant class. Well done! However, what year was this painting made?
Wow, this was a really well done blog post. You gave a lot of background information on Judith Leyster. I think the children’s faces, not only in this particular painting, but quite a few others from this era were a tad.. off. They don’t quite match children’s faces, they look more like an adult’s face on a child’s body.
You did a really good job on this post. the information provided and your opinion on the piece were both interesting to read. I could see how this painting could be perceived as as a warning against foolish and mischievous behaviour. The boys smile gives off a joking feel,Which is countered by the look in the cats eyes that gives off a tense and uneasy feeling.