Adriaen van Ostade was born on December 10, 1610 in Haarlem. He was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age. His work reflected the lives of the poorest people, livening the scenes they created in taverns and around the village. He made a point of showing the details inside and outside of small cottages, the small embellishments and especially a focus on the lack thereof. The painter was inspired by Rembrandt and after painting the everyday life of the Dutch lower class for a time, he began to emulate the style of the great painter. The way he played with light in the darkness bears a resemblance to Rembrandt’s work and it is not surprising that he found inspiration there. His subject matter also changed, sometimes painting religious scenes such as the Nativity.
The Painter in His Workshop is a self-portrait.