Artwork

Peasant Family Entertained by a Fiddler with a Hunchback

Peasant Family Entertained by a Fiddler with a Hunchback, by Adriaen van Ostade, ink, 1652
Peasant Family Entertained by a Fiddler with a Hunchback, by Adriaen van Ostade, ink, 1652

Peasant Family Entertained by a Fiddler with a Hunchback is an ink print by the Baroque artist Adriaen van Ostade. It dates from 1652 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Peasant Family Entertained by a Fiddler with a Hunchback is an etching on laid paper created by Adriaen van Ostade around 1652. The work captures a rustic scene of everyday life, characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age genre paintings.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts a rural family gathered around a fiddler with a pronounced hunchback, emphasizing the joy and communal entertainment in a humble, rustic setting.

Technique & Style

Executed in etching, the piece reflects Baroque influences through its suggested dramatic lighting, though the overall tone remains subdued, focusing on the intimacy of the scene.

History & Provenance

Adriaen van Ostade, baptized as Adriaen Jansz Hendricx, was a prominent 17th-century Dutch artist known for his genre scenes of ordinary Dutch life, with this work being a typical example of his oeuvre.

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: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.