Painter in His Studio
1647
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1647
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Painter in His Studio is a 1647 ink by Adriaen van Ostade, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a messy artist’s studio with two people working. One man sits on a stool, painting at an easel, while a woman nearby stitches or mends something by a small table. The room is packed with tools, a ladder, and framed art on the walls. Light streams through tall, narrow windows, and a fireplace sits empty in the corner. The artist’s tools—brushes, a palette, and a stool—are scattered around, showing a real, lived-in workspace. The Latin text below hints at the struggles and rewards of making art. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints with needles and acid.
