Nikolaus Knüpfer

Nikolaus Knüpfer (1609 – 15 October 1655)[1] was a Dutch Golden Age painter.

Knüpfer was trained in Leipzig, where according to Houbraken he was apprenticed to Emanuel Nysen.

He lived with him for two years and then established his own studio in Utrecht, where in 1637 he became a visiting member of the Guild of St. Luke.

Knüpfer was a successful teacher, whose students were great painters after him, such as Jan Steen, Gabriel Metsu, Ary de Vois, and Pieter Crijnse Volmarijn.

His figures are often in unusual poses, and painted with flowing lines with white accents.