Violin Player and Drinking Farmers in a Tavern II 1663

Editor: This is "Violin Player and Drinking Farmers in a Tavern II," an oil painting by Adriaen van Ostade from 1663. I find it incredibly detailed, showing an everyday scene with a rough and textured quality. How can we unpack the materiality and process here? Curator: Given our materialist lens, it’s key to note the everyday subject matter elevated through oil paint. Ostade’s application isn't about obscuring the labor involved; we see a palpable rendering of texture—the roughspun clothes, the uneven floorboards. Notice how light falls across surfaces. Consider the role of art production in 17th century Dutch society. What materials would be readily available and affordable to him? Editor: Right, it's about the access and economic drivers, I guess. So, Ostade’s choice of oil on panel is a deliberate one, pointing towards a specific market. He isn't using expensive materials, suggesting it might be aimed towards the rising middle class. What does this genre scene contribute to this class' self-perception? Curator: Exactly. Genre scenes provided narratives accessible to this audience, legitimizing their values through depictions of everyday life. Think about what these "everyday" activities, like drinking and music, actually represent about labor and leisure. What statement do you believe Ostade is making by depicting farmers in the context of material excess or contentment? Editor: That makes sense. He is capturing a lifestyle, and maybe romanticizing a kind of Dutch peasant life, turning raw, and maybe idealized, material realities into art for those slightly above that class? The way the light catches on the jug really stands out to me now. Curator: The strategic highlighting, done so meticulously with his material, speaks volumes, doesn't it? These scenes allowed the upwardly mobile to appreciate both their status and a constructed past. Editor: I hadn't really considered it in terms of accessible materiality. Thanks, seeing the connection between his medium, labor and the buyer is very eye opening! Curator: Indeed, this kind of art is rooted not in just subject, but making practices and intended audience!