Artwork

An Interior with Artisans and Peasants Eating and Drinking

An Interior with Artisans and Peasants Eating and Drinking, by Unknown, 1650
An Interior with Artisans and Peasants Eating and Drinking, by Unknown, 1650

An Interior with Artisans and Peasants Eating and Drinking is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

An Interior with Artisans and Peasants Eating and Drinking, attributed to the artist known as 1985_person, dates to around 1650 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The image captures a modest interior scene in which six figures are gathered around a wooden table, illuminated by a narrow shaft of light from a small window.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a moment of everyday sustenance: a man in a broad-brimmed hat and red stockings, a woman in a white cap and blue apron, a child, and two additional figures engaged in eating and serving. The informal poses and mixed attire suggest a domestic gathering rather than a ceremonial occasion, offering insight into the social habits of artisans and peasants in the mid‑17th century.

Technique & Style

The work employs chiaroscuro, creating strong contrasts between illuminated faces and deep shadows that recede into the darkened room. This handling of light emphasizes texture—such as the rough wood of the table and the fabric of the clothing—while directing the viewer’s attention to the interaction among the participants.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1650, the piece has been preserved within the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography. Its attribution to 1985_person remains based on stylistic analysis, and the work has been documented as part of the museum’s collection of genre scenes that illustrate daily life in early modern Europe.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known