Description
This small and charming oil on canvas depicts a young boy sitting on an older man’s knee, drinking from a beer stein. The scene takes place in a workshop or home, with fabric drapped over various pieces of furniture, and what appears to be a tailor’s shop. The painting is housed in a giltwood and plaster frame, unsigned and unattributed.
This painting is likely a master copy of the same time period of a similar painting by Alojz Eberl. Eberl’s painting, dated 1858, has almost identical subject matter, and currently housed in the Pomurje Museum Murska Sobota in Slovenia. The scene is a classic and whimsical example of genre painting. Historically, genre paintings are characterized by the careful rendering of scenes of common people tending to their daily rituals, representing humanity and immediacy. This painting is a perfect example, inviting the viewer into a moment of rest and indulgence between family members.
The work is highly detailed, with various objects surrounding the figures and embellishing the scene. There is a basket of sewing items like a nøstepinne with wound yard and other balls of yarn on the ground. A spinning wheel is in the foreground at the edge of the frame. The young boy tries on a green hat with a feather and a vest that seems too big for him, while the older man looks at him with a warm smile. As an intimate depiction of everyday life, this painting invites the viewer into a tender moment, likely between a grandfather and grandson.
This painting is a tender snapshot of quotidian life and would be a joyful addition to a home office, living room, or kitchen.
Canvas: H=10 in. W=8.5 in.
With Frame: H=16.75 in. W=15 in. D=2.5 in. 6 lbs.
