Interiors by Vermeer and Pieter De Hooch

Dutch homes were generally cluttered, and not as well-lit as the pristine environments of The Dutch Masters compositions. The Dutch house had specialized functions. Beds, for example, were placed in halls, kitchens, or wherever they fit. But when rooms did assume a particular use, it was often reflected in the paintings chosen to decorate them—domestic scenes or religious images were selected more often for private areas of the house while landscapes or city views were shown in public areas.