Gebogen man 1620 - 1685

Adriaen van Ostade created this drawing, Gebogen man, using black chalk on paper. The artwork is a sketch study of a man in motion, and the use of chalk allows for soft gradations of light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and volume. You can see this especially in the rendering of the man’s clothing, with its many folds. The deliberate choice of this humble material and method speaks to a keen interest in the lives of ordinary people. Ostade made numerous paintings and drawings showing peasants in taverns or barns. While the images were popular with collectors, they also prompt a deeper consideration of labor and class, and a democratizing impulse that aligns with the rise of the Dutch Republic at this time. So, next time you look at a drawing like this, think about the relationship between the subject portrayed, and the way it was made. It can tell us a lot about its time.