Cornelis Visscher II, “Liereman”, c1650, after Adriaen van Ostade

Cornelis Visscher II (aka Cornelis Vischer) (1628/9–1658)

“Liereman”— hurdy-gurdy player, c1650, after a painting by Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685).

Etching and engraving on laid paper trimmed around the image borderline (with loss of the writing edge) and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 36 x 40.2 cm.

Hollstein Dutch 51 (Christiaan Schuckman [comp.] 1992, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Cornelis de Visscher, Cornelis Visscher, Hendrick Jansz Visscher, Lambert Visscher”, vol. 40, Roosendaal, Koninklijke Van Poll, p. 62, cat. no. 51).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: “A beggar family is playing music at a doorway. A boy is playing the violin and a man in torn clothes is playing his hurdy-gurdy. The rest of the children are standing around” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.191143).

See also the description of this print offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1839-0413-188.

Condition: a strong impression, but one that has been slightly over-wiped (notably in the tree) and the affected areas have been replenished to minimise the visual distraction. Otherwise, the sheet is in a very good condition, trimmed around the image border line, with no tears, holes, folds or significant stains and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this large etching of poor and dismally joyful musicians—consisting of what the British Museum describes as a “Hurdy-Gurdy player, a young violinist and other urchins” (inv. no. 1839,0413.188)—for AU$277 in total (currently US$183.61/EUR166.99/GBP142.73 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$277) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this hauntingly expressive etching (with engraving) of a destitute family begging (through music) for charity, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Adriaen van Ostade’s etching, “Laughing Pipe Smoker”, c1672

Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685)

“Laughing Pipe Smoker” (TIB title) (aka “Le Fumeur Riant” [Bartsch title]; “Smoker Leaning on the Back of a Chair” [Godefroy title]; “Smoking Farmer with his Arm over the Back of a Chair” [Rijksmuseum]), c1652 (1650–1654 [Rijksmuseum dates]), after a drawing by Adriaen van Ostade.

Etching on ochre coloured laid paper, trimmed with a small margin around the platemark and backed with a support sheet providing wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 11.5 x 10 cm; (plate) 10.6 x 9 cm.

Inscribed in plate below the image borderline: (left) “A Ostade”.

State v (of vi) with the corners of the plate rounded, but before (following Godefroy’s [1990] advice) “a small curved, horizontal line on the edge of the hat at the left” (p. 52).

TIB 1.6 (Leonard J Slatkes [ed.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 1, Abaris Books, New York, p. 329, cat. no. 6[-1]); Godefroy 6 (Louis Godefroy 1990, “The Complete Etchings of Adriaen Van Ostade”, San Francisco, Alan Wofsy, pp. 51–52, cat. 6).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “A man seated at a table directed to right, holding a pipe, leaning on the back of a chair/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-1408).

See also the description of this print offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.38821.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with small margins and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins. Beyond a few dot marks (see left edge), the sheet is in a very good condition for its age, with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this superb etching exemplifying Van Ostade’s amazing skill and insightful understanding of everyday folk’s mannerisms that give life to his rural characters—see for example, the subtle twist to the angle that the pipe is held capturing how a listener might “toy” with a pipe when fully engaged with listening to a story, going further, the ever so slight raising of the smoker's left eyebrow in response to a good tale being told and the tiny downward mark on the left side of his mouth animating the old chap’s DAO (depressor anguli oris) muscles that captures his age and expression of interest in what is being said—for the total cost of AU$337 (currently/approximately US$227.20/EUR208.37/GBP175.12 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$337) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this gem of a character study by one of the major Dutch Old Masters, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Albert Paul Guilmet’s etching, “Man Smoking a Pipe at a Window”, c.1873–76

Albert Paul Guilmet (1879–1922)

“Man Smoking a Pipe at a Window”, c.1873–76, plate 45, printed in Paris by Albert Marie Jérôme Quantin (1850–1930), possibly as a supplement to the art revue “Paris à l'Eau-Forte” (1873-76) (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_%C3%A0_l%27eau-forte#Annexes).

Etching on fine cream laid paper.

Size: (sheet) 18.5 x 25.5 cm; (plate) 10.8 x 14.5 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (upper left) “45”; (upper left within window frame) “A Guilmet”; (below window frame) “Imp A Quantin”. Note that there are other inscriptions within the image, such as within the billowing smoke near the pipe and on the figure’s coat at right, but I am unable to decipher what is written.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression with wide margins in an excellent condition with no tears, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this curiously interesting etching showing a figure smoking his pipe at a window—to my eyes this print references Adriaen van Ostade’s prints of figures at windows, for example, “The Smoker at the Window”, 1667? (https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/6724.26/)—for the total cost of AU$223 (currently US$145.62/EUR135.17/GBP115.32 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this creatively inventive etching—note how the smoker’s right arm supporting the pipe is shown projecting far past the window frame and how the smoke billowing from the pipe to the left is pictorially echoed by the ivy vine spreading to the right—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

(attrib.) Abraham Blooteling’s etching, “The Family”, 1655–1690, after Adriaen van Ostade

(attrib.) Abraham Blooteling (aka Abraham Bloteling; Abraham Blotelingh; Abraham Blootelingh) (1640–1690) (see the Rijksmuseum’s description of this print in the later numbered state: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.82212)

“The Family” (aka “Boerengezin in Interieur”; “Farming Family in Interior”), 1655–1690 (Rijksmuseum attrib.), plate 3 from the series of eight prints, “Caprice”, after scenes by Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685). Proof before numbering and publication in Amsterdam by Abraham Blootelling, etched in the reverse direction to Adriaen van Ostade’s composition (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_Sheepshanks-1529).

Etching on fine laid paper, trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 13.5 x 11.1 cm; (plate) 13.3 x 10.8 cm; (image borderline) 12.9 x 10.5 cm.

Inscribed in plate at lower left “1646” with indistinct additional marks at lower right.

Ref. Hollstein 46 (K.G. Boon & J. Verbeek 1964, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, engravings and woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Van Ostade–De Passe”, vol. 15, Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger en Co., p. 59, cat. no. 46).

The Rijksmuseum offers the following description of this print: “[trans.] Simple living area with farmer's family during daily activities. The farmer's wife takes care of her youngest child while a boy eats from a bowl at the table and the farmer cuts a slice of bread. Another boy is playing with a dog. The room is full of household objects and furniture” (http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.82212).

Lifetime impression before numbering.

Condition: a strong, well-printed and near faultless impression in an excellent condition, trimmed with a thread margin around the platemark and laid in a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper providing wide margins.

I am selling this superb, near faultless, lifetime impression before the plate was later numbered for publication, for AU$307 (currently US$208.22/EUR189.13/GBP164.09 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this very beautiful etching by Blooteling—a contemporary of Van Ostade—in the reverse direction after Van Ostade’s design, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Unidentified printmaker’s copy of Adriaen van Ostade’s etching, “Smiling Peasant Woman”, c.1663

Unidentified printmaker/copyist from the circle of Adriaen van Ostade (aka Adriaen Jansz. van Ostade) (1610–1685)

“Smiling Peasant Woman” (TIB title) (aka “Bust of a Peasant” [Godefroy title], “Paysan qui rit”; “Petit Buste de Paysanne”; Klein Büste einer Bäuerin), c.1663. I propose that is a copy in the same direction and with the same dimensions as the original plate based on the regularity of the shading. 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 image borderline.

Size: (sheet) 3.3 x 3.4 cm; (plate) 3.2 x 3 cm; (image borderline) 2.8 x 2.7 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s monogram: (upper left [soft]) "AO".

(Copy of) state v (of v) with the addition of the borderline and the artist’s monogram.

Refences for Van Ostade’s original plate: TIB 1.2 (Leonard J Slatkes [ed.] 1978, “The Illustrated Bartsch: Netherlandish Artists”, vol. 1, Abaris Books, New York, p. 327, cat. no. 2); Godefroy 2 (Louis Godefroy 1990, “The Complete Etchings of Adriaen Van Ostade”, San Francisco, Alan Wofsy, pp. 41–42, cat. 2).

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_1857-0214-208;              http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.38806.

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 women wearing a head-scarf that was possibly designed as a pendant to the etching of a laughing peasant man (see https://www.printsandprinciples.com/2023/07/copy-after-adriaen-van-ostades-etching.html), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that the purchase price for the combined purchase of the two etchings of the laughing farmer and his wife is AU$400 (currently US$267.36; EUR241.91; GBP212.95) including shipping.

(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.