Interior of a barn.

Drawing, black chalk with black wash, heightened with white, 33,7 x 32 cm, laid paper, unsigned (colour-difference of paper at left edge and upper right corner due to old passe-partout).

Interior of a wooden barn with a woman occupied with making cheese. The subject matter, composition and execution of the drawing correspond closely to the attributed barn interiors made by Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685) at the beginning of his career when the Dutch artist created harmonious effects of light and dark in cottage and barn interiors. The composition can be compared with "Barn interior" in the Fogg Museum, Cambridge (Mass.), inv. TL 16196.1.