Jun 5, 2017
Adriaen Jansz. van Ostade, Peasant Family and Dog Beside the Hearth, 1649
Dutch paintings are often described as either the ‘rough’ or ‘fine’ style. For example, Rembrandt is known for the expressive, loose brush strokes that characterize the former, while his successful student Gerrit Dou is recognized for his finer, more detailed work.
Peasant paintings like this one by van Ostade were often done in the rough style, reflecting their subjects’ low socio-economic status and perceived lack of civility. Although these genre works were caricatures of dirty, unattractive peasants, they appealed to wealthy buyers and members of the burgeoning middle class. Compared to the chaotic scenes of Adriaen Brouwer, this work is actually quite civil.
