The artist used a precise system of cross-hatching to build form and volume. He moved away from the mannered movements and stereotyped faces common in earlier Dutch portraiture. In his genre scenes, Van Dalen captures figures in moments of quiet action. He uses diagonal compositions to create a sense of space without relying on complex architectural backgrounds. His figures often occupy a shallow foreground, which brings the viewer into immediate contact with the subject.

Modern collectors value these prints for their honesty and technical precision. The work provides a direct window into seventeenth-century domestic life without the distraction of heavy symbolism. These pieces suit contemporary interiors because they offer a balance of historical detail and clean composition. The monochromatic nature of the engravings allows them to fit into various colour schemes. They represent a period when art began to celebrate the ordinary.