Artwork

The Singer

The Singer, by Adriaen van Ostade, 1653
The Singer, by Adriaen van Ostade, 1653

The Singer is a print by the Baroque artist Adriaen van Ostade. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Singer is a print by Adriaen van Ostade, a Dutch artist active during the 17th century. Created circa 1653, it is a representative work of his oeuvre.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts three figures in a dimly lit, cluttered space. A woman writes at a table, another looks on, and a man stands nearby, holding a glass. The scene conveys a sense of everyday life, capturing the subjects' expressions and interactions.

Technique & Style

Van Ostade employed rapid, expressive lines to render the scene, imbuing it with a sense of vitality. The sketchy style effectively conveys the characters' emotions, particularly the man's amusement.

History & Provenance

The Singer is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. As a work from the Dutch Golden Age, it reflects the artistic trends of that period.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Adriaen van Ostade

Artist

Adriaen van Ostade

Adriaen van Ostade (baptized as Adriaen Jansz Hendricx 10 December 1610 – buried 2 May 1685) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of genre works, showing the everyday life of ordinary men and women.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.