Landscape with Peasants in Front of their Farm 

David Teniers the Younger painted this scene with oil on canvas. These were the materials of the established master, yet he turned his attention not to myth or scripture, but to the everyday world. Notice how the very qualities of oil paint contribute to this effect. Teniers’s brushwork is visible throughout, giving a sense of immediacy. The figures are sturdy, rendered with earthy tones. The sky is heavy, like the paint itself has weight. Teniers was celebrated for his ability to depict peasant life, elevating this subject matter to the realm of fine art. However, it's important to consider the social context. While Teniers captured the likeness of laborers, he himself was far removed from their toil. This painting, like so many others of its time, offers a glimpse into the lives of the working class, but from a distinctly privileged perspective. The labor of the artist is foregrounded, while the labor of the peasants fades into the background.