CIRCLE OF ADRIAEN BROUWER | HEAD OF AN OLD MAN IN PROFILE FACING RIGHT

Private collector, New York;

Thence by descent in the family.

These types of spontaneous yet confident caricatures that demonstrate an interest in human emotion and physiognomy were made popular by Adriaen Brouwer, whose output influenced a countless number of close contemporaries and followers, including Joos van Craesbeeck. In the present painting, the artist depicts a peasant wearing a simple brown costume and a feathered hat looking to his left. His memorable profile is defined by expressive eyes, a thin lipped grin, a wrinkled face, and a distinctly large and whiskered nose.