The Two Gossips (copy)
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
sheet: 4 1/16 x 3 1/8 in. (10.3 x 7.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Kennedy, 1976
Accession Number
1976.522.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
Adriaen van Ostade, a prominent Dutch Golden Age artist (1610–1685), captures the lively essence of everyday peasant life in *The Two Gossips ()*, a small yet spirited etching. Known for his genre scenes depicting rural folk in humorous, candid moments, van Ostade here likely portrays two women deep in animated conversation—the quintessential "gossips"—highlighting the social fabric of 17th-century Dutch villages This copy preserves the original's charm, showcasing his signature style of earthy realism and expressive detail within intimate dimensions of just 4 1/16 x 3 1/8 inches. Etching, va...
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 ...