2
This was a popular subject in the 17th Century. This artist has used the 3D trompe l'oeil (deceive the eye) technique to give
the impression that the schoolmaster is leaning out of the window towards the
viewer. Very evocative of the period. Nice costume details, as well as secondary subjects such as school children in the background and a bird cage above his head. Are the papers maybe tests he is scoring?
This would be a great painting for a teacher to own.
Gerrit Dou painted several similar scenes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrit_Dou