Gebogen mansfiguur met een stok in de hand 1620 - 1685

Adriaen van Ostade made this drawing of a bent-over man with a stick using pen in gray ink and gray wash. The artwork resides in the Rijksmuseum. The image invites us to consider the social realities of 17th-century Holland. Van Ostade often depicted scenes of peasant life. In contrast to the idealized images promoted by the Dutch upper classes, Van Ostade often focused on the hardships faced by the lower classes. The stooped posture and reliance on a walking stick suggest age, poverty, or disability. These were all too common in a society marked by economic inequality. By focusing on such a figure, Van Ostade’s drawing serves as a commentary on the social structures of his time. Was the artist highlighting the plight of the less fortunate, or reinforcing existing stereotypes? Further research into the artist’s biography, the patronage system, and the prevailing social attitudes of the time would help us better understand Van Ostade’s intentions.