Bust of a Smiling Peasant, Adriaen van Ostade, 1660 - 1670
etching, h 72mm × w 58mm More details
The nature of a print lies in its multiplicity. When changes are made to a copper plate and it is subsequently printed again, the resulting prints are known as ‘states.’ The states tell the story of how the composition developed. Adriaen van Ostade himself designed this bust of a laughing man. After his death, the copper plate ended up with an owner who added the densely hatched background.
