Village Festival

c. 1646–1650

Village Festival, c. 1646–1650. David Teniers (Flemish, 1610–1690). Oil on canvas; framed: 57 x 91 x 9 cm (22 7/16 x 35 13/16 x 3 9/16 in.); unframed: 37.7 x 71.3 cm (14 13/16 x 28 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Noah L. Butkin 1977.122 Depictions of peasant festivals, such as weddings, harvests, and village holidays became an extremely popular subject for Flemish artists during the 1600s. In his paintings of these festive occasions David Teniers the Younger (1610–1690), portrayed peasants dancing and playing music, focusing on the cheerful elements of peasant life. His images often feature close-knit family groups taking part in the celebration. Contrary to his predecessors, who often depicted broken and disorderly still life objects in their paintings, Teniers emphasized household objects in brass, ceramic, and glass in a perfect state to demonstrate the growing prosperity of the peasants.