Pork Butcher 1610 - 1685

Adriaen van Ostade’s etching, “Pork Butcher,” (1610-1685), depicts a scene of everyday life in 17th century Holland. The composition centers on a group of figures gathered around a butcher, who is preparing a pig for slaughter. The etching, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is an excellent example of Ostade’s characteristic style, which combined elements of realism and genre painting. The use of chiaroscuro (strong contrast between light and dark) creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, while the detail in the figures and their surroundings evokes a sense of realism.