Who painted Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool?

Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool was painted by Adriaen van Ostade in 1671.

Where can I see Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool?

Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool?

Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool

Adriaen van Ostade , 1671

Two Peasants Outside a House, the Woman Winding Wool is an ink print by the Baroque artist Adriaen van Ostade. It dates from 1671 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1671, this print by Adriaen van Ostade presents a modest domestic scene set before a modest dwelling. Two peasants are shown: a man standing to the left of a seated woman who is occupied with winding wool. The house behind them features a broad doorway, several windows, and a tree to the right, framing the quiet activity.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a moment of everyday labor, emphasizing the routine tasks of rural life. By focusing on the simple act of winding wool, Ostade highlights the dignity of ordinary work and invites contemplation of the private, unremarkable moments that constitute daily existence for common folk.

Technique & Style

Executed primarily as an etching on laid paper, the image incorporates selective dry‑point lines that enrich texture and deepen shadows. The delicate, fine lines and subtle tonal gradations convey a calm atmosphere, while the dry‑point adds a slightly rougher quality that accentuates the figures and architectural details.

History & Provenance

Adriaen van Ostade, a Dutch artist renowned for genre scenes, produced this work during the later phase of his career. The print has circulated among collectors of 17th‑century Dutch prints and is documented in several museum collections, reflecting its continued relevance as an example of Ostade’s printmaking.

Artist & collection

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.