Who painted Peasant with Sack?

Peasant with Sack was painted by Jacques Callot in 1617.

Where can I see Peasant with Sack?

Peasant with Sack is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Peasant with Sack?

Peasant with Sack is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Peasant with Sack?

Museum-quality prints of Peasant with Sack are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Peasant with Sack

Jacques Callot , 1617

Peasant with Sack is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1617 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1617, Peasant with Sack is an etching on laid paper by Jacques Callot, a prolific French printmaker active in the Duchy of Lorraine. The work presents a solitary, weary figure bearing a heavy sack, set against a stark, rocky hillside. Rendered in a single impression, the image exemplifies Callot’s focus on everyday subjects rendered with meticulous line work.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a laboring peasant, his posture slumped and his clothing coarse, suggesting the hardships of rural life in early‑17th‑century France. The sack, bulging over his shoulder, hints at the burdens of subsistence, while the barren landscape reinforces a sense of isolation and toil.

Technique & Style

Callot employs fine, cross‑hatching to model texture, from the creases in the peasant’s garments to the bark of the sparse trees. The etched lines convey depth on the uneven ground and the rugged hillside, demonstrating the artist’s command of tonal variation within the constraints of a single metal plate.

History & Provenance

Part of Callot’s extensive output, over 1,400 etchings, this piece belongs to a series documenting contemporary figures such as soldiers, beggars, and courtly types. While the original plate’s ownership history is not fully recorded, the work has circulated among collections that specialize in Baroque prints and Lorraine art.

Context

During the early Baroque period, French printmakers like Callot expanded the scope of print media beyond religious and mythological themes, turning to genre scenes that recorded daily existence. Peasant with Sack reflects this shift, offering a realistic snapshot of a social class often omitted from elite portraiture.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jacques Callot

Jacques Callot (French: ; c. 1592 – 1635) was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine. He is an important person in the development of the old master print. He made more than 1,400 etchings that…