Description
This charming continental oil on canvas depicts a peasant man hunched over on a wooden crate enjoying a drink in one hand and holding a pipe in the other. The scene surrounding him has a variety of lush harvested vegetables and gardening tools, illuminated by a stream of light from the large window. Housed in an Empire-style black lacquered frame with gilded gold sight edge details that complement the tones of the painting, signed “W. Sigmund” in the lower left corner and dated 1862.
This painting in particular is a master copy, as evidenced by a painting sold at auction in 2014 by Karl von Enhuber with almost identical subject matter, dated 1847, well before this painting was created. The scene in particular is a classic and masterful piece of genre painting. Genre painting became hugely popular in the Victorian age, as evident the date of this painting. Historically, genre paintings are characterized by the careful rendering of scenes of common men and women tending to their daily rituals. They intend to be a representation of humanity and immediacy. This is a perfect example of such a scene, inviting the viewer into a moment of rest and indulgence.
The work is highly rendered, describing the folds in his work clothes, the sheen of the metal garden tools, and even down to the veins in the leaves of lettuce. To the figure’s left, there is a meager helping of bread and sausage cut open with his knife. He is holding both a German long pipe and German beer stein, locating the scene in Central Europe. The painting is also illuminated from the left side, a common lighting device of traditional Dutch genre paintings. The dramatic lighting typical of this genre ensures the figure is brightly lit against the starkly shaded background, creating a high-contrast view of everyday life.
This painting is a tender snapshot of quotidian life with an exceptionally dynamic composition. Such a treasure and would be a delightful addition to a dining room, living room, or kitchen.
