A Peasant courting an Elderly Woman

A Peasant courting an Elderly Woman is a 1653 painting by Adriaen van Ostade. It is housed in the National Gallery. The painting measures 0.221 meters wide and 0.273 meters high.

The artwork depicts a scene in a dimly lit interior, possibly a tavern or humble home. A man, wearing a dark hat and coat, sits at a table with an older woman. He holds a dark-colored bottle or glass, suggesting the consumption of alcohol. The woman, wearing a white cap and a reddish-brown jacket over a lighter-colored garment, sits beside him, appearing somewhat reserved or perhaps amused. Their hands are close together on the table. The background shows a window with a lattice, letting in muted light, and a dark wooden cupboard or wall. The overall mood is intimate and somewhat suggestive of a courtship scene, though the woman's age and the man's apparent interest create a slightly unusual dynamic. The painting's style is characteristic of Dutch genre painting of the period, with attention to detail in the figures' clothing and the setting.