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UNKNOWN ARTIST (in the circle of Cornelis Dusart?)

GENRE SCENE IN THE STYLE OF VAN OSTADE

The Netherlands, early 18th century
Watercolor and ink on paper laid down on board
16.5 × 24.5 cm / 6.5 × 9.6 in; with frame: 43 × 35 cm / 16.9 × 13.8 in

PROVENANCE
Private collection, Paris

This charming genre scene in the spirit of Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685) is a vivid example of the retrospective fascination with Dutch Golden Age painting. Set in a typical tavern interior, the composition features smoking pipes, tankards, children playing on the floor, and peasants engaged in leisurely conversation. The drawing was likely created in the early 18th century, a period marked by renewed enthusiasm for Ostade’s art, and reflects not mere imitation but an attempt to capture the essence of his vision.

The unknown artist freely interprets Van Ostade’s visual language: simplified forms, gentle chiaroscuro, everyday subject matter, and a lively composition suggest the influence not only of Ostade himself but also of his immediate followers—particularly Cornelis Dusart (1660–1704). A pupil of Ostade from 1675 to 1679 and a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, Dusart was known for his refined, colored drawings of peasant types, rendered with expressive economy and character.

Van Ostade holds a unique place in art history as a major genre painter and innovator. More than a mere chronicler of rural life, he developed a new artistic language in which humble subjects acquire poetry, atmosphere, and psychological depth. As Arnold Houbraken wrote, Van Ostade "painted the whole of peasant life" and did so "naturally." His popularity grew steadily during his lifetime and soared after his death. Hofstede de Groot noted that his legacy is difficult to quantify: "his paintings number over 900," of which only 104 are signed and dated. Already in the 18th century, collectors were paying remarkable sums: “in 1750 — £40; a century later — £1,000; and in 1876, Lord Dudley paid £4,120 for a cottage interior.”

This drawing is not only a tribute to Van Ostade’s style but also a creative reinterpretation of his legacy through the graphic medium of the following century. Its composition, figure placement, and deliberately “rustic” character types speak to the deep penetration of Ostade’s aesthetic into 18th-century visual culture.

The work’s presentation adds to its appeal: an elegant 18th-century carved frame with a refined mat transforms the sheet into a decorative object ready to grace any collection or interior.

Base: Paper

Epoque: XVII century

Epoque: XVIII century

Genre: Genre painting

School: Dutch

Technic: Watercolor

Technic: Brown ink