Jan Vermeulen was a Dutch artist who was active in Haarlem during the 17th century. Details about his life remain obscure, but he is believed to be the same person as 'Johannes van der Moolen' who joined the Haarlem painters' guild in 1651. Vermeulen was known for his vanitas still lifes and his works were often confused with those of his Haarlem contemporaries. He was fined in 1655 for not paying his membership dues to the guild. Vermeulen's painting style was characterized by a seemingly haphazard arrangement of objects, often including books, portfolios, musical instruments, hourglasses, globes, and drawings. He added a degree of theatricality to his works by including curtains that were pulled away to reveal overflowing tables