Peasant courting a woman

In this small scene, Adriaen van Ostade shows an elderly peasant with his hand on a woman close to his age. He is leaning towards her with his other hand holding a tall, full glass of beer, perhaps denouncing his desire for her. His hand is on a long, unbroken clay pipe. In Dutch art of the time, this often symbolised virginity. She smiles a little, but still without raising her eyes to his, reflecting her shyness and uncertainty. Around eight hundred paintings by ADriaen van Ostade are known, most of them small genre scenes in which she demonstrates her ability to portray emotions such as sensitivity and empathy.

Collection: Images

Project: 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity., 4. Family, daily life and social inequality in Europe.

Chronology: XVII

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/adriaen-van-ostade-a-peasant-courting-an-elderly-woman

Resource type: Image

Format: Oil on panel (27,3 x 22.1 cm)

Source: National Gallery of London (Londres)

Language: English

Date: 1653

Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)