The Blessing 1610 - 1685

Adriaen van Ostade's etching, *The Blessing*, depicts a humble Dutch family gathered for a meal. The scene showcases the artist's mastery of depicting everyday life, with a focus on the details of peasant life and a sense of realism. The etching, created between 1610 and 1685, shows a family at a simple table, a mother holding a child in her lap, while the father and another child bow their heads in prayer. This poignant image of a family gathering highlights the importance of faith and shared moments in rural Dutch society. The work is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.