The Bean King

The title of the painting refers to a role-playing game traditionally performed in family circles in the Netherlands at Epiphany, when the ‘bean feast’ is celebrated.

Whoever gets the bean in the pie...

... will become king.

The king gathers a court with jesters...

... and descent maids around him. Those and more roles are being allocated by the king during the game.

King Herod – chosen by drawing lots – is mocked as a drunkard as a reminder of his all too excessive indulgence.

The judgmental posture and glance of the colourfully dressed women...

... is mirrored by the small child. This signals to us, the viewer, that this scene presents an extraordinary circumstance.