In the style of Adriaen van Ostade (Netherlands, 1610-1685) The Knife Grinder, n.d. Etching, 3 ¼ x 3 ¼ inches Gift of Audrey McMahon, P90 This print provides us with insight into the daily life of low-income laborers. Many artists took as their subject men engaged in skilled labor such as cobblers, blacksmiths, or in this particular image, a knife grinder. The cobbler in the image trades with the knife grinder. The knife grinder is dressed in rough clothing and a slouched hat falls over his face. His costume, labor, and modest setting mark his socio-economic station. (JC)
Abel Grimmer (Flanders, ca. 1570-ca.1619) Autumn Scene, ca. 1607 Oil on copper, 9 x 12 inches Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ross, 57.4
Abel Grimmer (Flanders, ca. 1570-ca.1619) Winter Scene, ca. 1607 Oil on copper, 9 x 12 inches Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ross, 57.5
With identical measurements and similar styles, these two panels must have been part of a set. They are likely members of a group of four works depicting the seasons, a common project for 16th-century artists. Grimmer’s paintings take the form of country landscapes with groups of figures performing appropriate seasonal activities. For example, cultivating crops appears in Autumn while figures on the ice appear in Winter. In Grimmer’s paintings, the figures are extremely small and rendered with quick and sketchy brush strokes. Despite their small size, the figures are endowed with energy and move about the scene in a naturalistic manner. (NL)