Who painted Two Peasants Singing?

Two Peasants Singing was painted by Cornelis Dusart in 1685.

Where can I see Two Peasants Singing?

Two Peasants Singing is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Two Peasants Singing?

Two Peasants Singing is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Two Peasants Singing

Cornelis Dusart , 1685

Two Peasants Singing is an ink print by the Baroque artist Cornelis Dusart. It dates from 1685 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

This etching shows two country people singing with simple joy—one holds a jug, the other claps.

This etching shows two country people singing with simple joy—one holds a jug, the other claps. The lines are scratchy and rough, like quick pencil marks. Dusart made it in 1685, back when prints were the social media of the day.

The real trick here is the drypoint lines. Dusart scratched the plate himself, then pushed ink into the scratches. When printed, those lines look soft and velvety, not sharp. It’s a rough tool for a gentle effect.

See it for yourself at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

Overview

Cornelis Dusart, a Haarlem‑born artist active in the late 17th century, produced the etching *Two Peasants Singing* in 1685. Executed on laid paper, the print captures a brief, informal musical exchange between two rural figures, one holding a jug and the other clapping. The work exemplifies the genre‑scene focus that defined much of Dusart’s output.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a moment of simple, communal joy among country folk. By depicting peasants engaged in song, Dusart highlights everyday leisure rather than grand historical narratives, reflecting a broader Dutch interest in the dignity and humor of ordinary life.

Technique & Style

Dusart employed drypoint on a copper plate, incising lines that retain a soft, velvety quality when printed. The resulting scratches appear loose and sketch‑like, giving the scene a spontaneous, almost tactile immediacy that contrasts with the precise lines of traditional engraving.

History & Provenance

Created shortly after Dusart’s admission to the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke in 1679, the etching circulated among collectors of genre prints. It now resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Dutch print holdings.

Context

Dusart trained under Adriaen van Ostade, whose influence is evident in the choice of peasant subjects and the informal, narrative tone of the image. The work belongs to a period when prints served as a widely distributed visual medium, akin to contemporary social media, spreading images of daily life across Europe.