A laughing peasant

Adriaen van Ostade's a laughing peasant is a relatively early work, dating to the 1640's. According to Van Houbraken, Van Ostade and Adriaen Brouwer knew each other in Haarlem in the studio of Frans Hals. Although no compelling evidence for this exists, Van Ostade must have known Brouwer's work as evidenced by comparing works in our collection by both artists. Both are thinly painted, on similar sized panels and show similar tonality and subjects.