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Peasant Couple at Rest

Jacques Callot

1621

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

Peasant Couple at Rest is a 1621 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1621 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows a tired-looking couple sitting on a rock by a river. The man leans on his staff, his head down, while the woman rests her hand on his shoulder. Both wear simple, loose clothes and hats. Behind them, trees and bushes fill the background, but the focus stays on their worn-out poses. The artist used fine, scratchy lines to show their tiredness and the rough texture of their clothes. This style was common in etchings of the time. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Callot made detailed prints this way.