Peasants Feasting at an Inn
c. 1652
Medium
etching, with touches of drypoint, on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 25.4 x 31.6 cm (10 x 12 7/16 in.) sheet: 26.6 x 33.1 cm (10 1/2 x 13 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.8320
Art Historical Context
Adriaen van Ostade *Peasants Feasting an Inn* (c. 1652) captures the lively chaos of Dutch peasant life during the Golden Age. This etching depicts a boisterous gathering inside a rustic inn, where farmers and laborers revel in food, drink, and camaraderie. Van Ostade, a master of genre scenes from Haarlem, drew inspiration from everyday folk, portraying them with earthy humor and keen observation—often highlighting the joys and follies of the lower classes amid the prosperity of 17th-century Netherlands. The artwork's medium, etching enhanced with touches of drypoint on laid paper, showcases...
About the Artist
Adriaen van Ostade · 1610–1685
Adriaen Jansz. van Ostade (1610-1685) was a Dutch Baroque painter and printmaker who specialized in genre scenes of peasant life. Born and raised in Haarlem, he became one of the most prolific and celebrated artists of the Dutch Golden Age, producing over 800 paintings, 50 etchings, and numerous drawings. Van Ostade's significance in art history lies in his masterful depiction of peasant life, a ...