(Copy after?) Adriaen van Ostade’s etching, “Peasant Wearing a Cap”, c.1650-52

(Copy after?) Adriaen van Ostade (aka Adriaen Jansz. van Ostade) (1610–1685)

“Peasant Wearing a Cap” (TIB title) (aka “Bust of a Laughing Peasant” [Godefroy title], “Paysan avec une Petite Togue Noire”; “Lachender Bauern mit Mütze), c.1650–52. I propose that this may be a copy in the same direction and with the same dimensions as the original plate based on the “K” shape fold in the figure’s garment (and other minor details). If this is the case, this impression was published in a collected edition of Van Ostade’s prints by the artist’s widow, Jean.

Etching on fine laid paper trimmed with a narrow margin around the platemark.

Size: (sheet) 3.7 x 3.3 cm; (plate) 3.5 x 3.1 cm; (image borderline) 3 x 2.8 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s monogram: (right) "AO".

(Copy of) state iv (of iv) with the addition of the borderline and the artist’s monogram of state iii and the four extra lines on the nape of the figure’s neck.

Refences for Van Ostade’s original plate: TIB 1.1 (Leonard J Slatkes [ed.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 1, Abaris Books, New York, p. 327, cat. no. 1); Godefroy 1 (Louis Godefroy 1990, “The Complete Etchings of Adriaen Van Ostade”, San Francisco, Alan Wofsy, pp. 40–41, cat. 1).

See also the descriptions of Van Ostade’s original plate offered by the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-1396; http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.38801.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression, trimmed close to the platemark, in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains (but the whole sheet is slightly toned by its age) or foxing.

I am selling this curiously interesting deceptive copy of Van Ostade’s etching, that was possibly executed for, and published by, the artist’s widow, for AU$327 in total (currently US$218.57/EUR197.76/GBP174.08 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in purchasing this tiny etching—it’s only a smidgen larger than a thumb print! —showing a happy peasant wearing a light-coloured skullcap under a dark cap/hat, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.