The Interior of a Barn with Two Peasants

Light spills in through a window high up on the towering wall of the barn. It picks out a sturdy woman with her sleeves rolled up, her arms in a tub – she’s perhaps washing clothes. Around her, discarded articles – an earthenware jar, a wicker basket, some colourful rags – are heaped up among bales of straw. The window does little to illuminate the rest of the vast space, leaving another figure almost lost in the shadows, crouching over a tiny fire in the background.This is an early work of Isack van Ostade, painted while he was still working alongside his older brother and teacher, Adriaen, who also painted scenes of peasant life. Isack later produced atmospheric and intricately detailed winter scenes, but he died young, before he could fulfil his potential. Isack’s A Winter Scene is also in the National Gallery’s collection.