Aertsen was a Dutch painter in the 16th century. He is credited with inventing the monumental genre scene, which combines still life and genre painting (often with a biblical scene in the background). His work influenced Flemish baroque painting.
Pieter Aertsen (1508, Amsterdam – 2 June 1575, Amsterdam), called Lange Piet ("Tall Pete") because of his height, was a Dutch painter in the style of Northern Mannerism. He is credited with the invention of the monumental genre scene, which combines still life and genre painting and often also includes a biblical scene in the background. He was active in his native city Amsterdam but also worked for a long period in Antwerp, then the centre of artistic life in the Netherlands.His genre scenes were influential on later Flemish Baroque painting, Dutch still life painting and also in Italy. His peasant scenes preceded by a few years the much better-known paintings produced in Antwerp by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
