Adriaen Brouwer worked in Antwerp from 1631. This painting used to be attributed to him, but is now believed to be by another, somewhat clumsier hand – perhaps one of his apprentices imitating his style. The picture is similar to those usually depicted by Brouwer: humorous everyday scenes of peasants drinking or, sometimes, brawling, such as Tavern Scene (also in the National Gallery’s collection).
In this example, however, the artist has set up a clear contrast between the three peasants lounging in the foreground – one asleep, one drinking, one smoking – and the vignette we can see through the open door. Here, three men are working hard, hoisting a heavy bale which is attached to a pulley suspended outside a house. The fourth peasant referred to in the title is hard to see, but appears to be a woman bent over her work in the shadows on the right.
Adriaen Brouwer worked in Antwerp from 1631. This painting used to be attributed to him, but is now believed to be by another, somewhat clumsier hand – perhaps one of his apprentices imitating his style. The picture is similar to those usually depicted by Brouwer: humorous everyday scenes of peasants drinking or, sometimes, brawling, such as Tavern Scene.
In this example, however, the artist has set up a clear contrast between the three peasants lounging in the foreground – one asleep, one drinking, one smoking – and the vignette we can see through the open door. Here, three men are working hard, hoisting a heavy bale which is attached to a pulley suspended outside a house. The fourth peasant referred to in the title is hard to see, but appears to be a woman bent over her work in the shadows on the right.
