Village Girl 1610 - 1685

Adriaen van Ostade's etching "Village Girl" (1610 - 1685) depicts a charming scene of a young woman, likely a peasant, smiling coyly while a man, perhaps her suitor, leans into her with a playful grin. The work showcases van Ostade's mastery of chiaroscuro, highlighting the figures with dramatic light and shadow and creating a sense of intimacy. The etching, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures the simple pleasures and everyday interactions of rural life in 17th-century Netherlands.