Peasants eating mussels

Adriaen Brouwer (manner of) 1605/1606 - 1638

Summary

This interior scene, depicting a group of peasants eating mussels, is in the style of the Flemish artist, Adriaen Brouwer. Three men sit around a makeshift table, sharing a bowl of mussels and half a loaf of bread. The man in the centre banters with a woman holding a serving bowl. In front of them, a fourth man reaches into a small cauldron, around which are scattered several empty mussel shells. Three large stoneware jars are visible in the bottom right corner, their high glaze catching the reflection of an unseen light source, perhaps an open door. In the background, a window opens onto a rural landscape with a cloudy sky. Brouwer is recorded in Amsterdam in 1625, after which he was probably working in Haarlem until he joined the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp in 1631-2. His unsentimental depictions of peasants are characterised by great attention to their facial expressions, which register a wide range of emotions. The artist who painted this panel has successfully followed Brouwer's style by depicting a close-knit group of peasants engaged in an everyday activity. True to Brouwer, their faces show us how they are feeling. Viewed at such close hand, engrossed in their enjoyable meal, they draw us into their merry company.