ARTISTA IGNOTO (nel circolo di Cornelis Dusart?)

UNKNOWN ARTIST (in the circle of Cornelis Dusart?) GENRE SCENE IN THE STYLE OF VAN OSTADE Netherlands, early 18th century Watercolor and ink on paper laid on cardboard 16.5 × 24.5 cm; framed: 43 × 35 cm PROVENANCE Private collection, Paris This charming genre scene, in the spirit of Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685), is a vivid example of the retrospective charm exerted by Dutch Golden Age painting. Set in a typical tavern, the composition features smoking pipes, tankards, children playing on the floor, and peasants immersed in relaxed conversation. The drawing is probably datable to the early decades of the 18th century, a period marked by renewed enthusiasm for Van Ostade's work, and reflects not a mere imitation, but an attempt to capture its essence. The anonymous artist freely interprets Van Ostade's visual language: simplified shapes, delicate chiaroscuro, everyday themes, and an animated composition suggest the influence not only of the master, but also of his immediate followers — particularly Cornelis Dusart (1660–1704). A pupil of Van Ostade from 1675 to 1679 and a member of the Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke, Dusart is known for his refined colored drawings of peasant types, created with expressive synthesis and strong characterization. Van Ostade occupies a unique place in art history as a great genre painter and innovator. More than just a chronicler of rural life, he developed a new pictorial language in which humble subjects acquire poetry, atmosphere, and psychological depth. As Arnold Houbraken wrote, Van Ostade “painted all of peasant life” and did so “in a natural way.” His popularity grew steadily during his lifetime and increased considerably after his death. Hofstede de Groot emphasized the difficulty of quantifying his legacy: “his paintings exceed 900,” of which only 104 are signed and dated. Already in the 18th century, collectors were paying remarkable sums: “in 1750 — 40 pounds; a century later — 1,000; and in 1876, Lord Dudley paid 4,120 pounds for a rustic interior.” This drawing is not only a tribute to Van Ostade's style, but also a creative reinterpretation of his legacy through the graphic language of the following century. The composition, the arrangement of the figures, and the deliberately "rustic" types testify to the profound penetration of Van Ostade's aesthetics into the visual culture of the 18th century. The presentation of the work enhances its charm: a refined carved 18th-century frame, accompanied by an elegant passe-partout, transforms the sheet into a decorative object ready to enrich any collection or environment.