Figure study of three men, one sitting and two standing.

Drawing, graphite, framing lines in pen and black ink, 11,7 x 15,5 cm, laid paper with partial watermark, unsigned (small brown stain at center).

Mounted on 18th-c. paper by upper corners.

This sheet with three standing figures is characteristic of David Teniers' (1610-1690) economical drawing manner, in which the artist is able to conjure up speaking figures with a few strokes. The use of pencil was the preferred drawing technique of the artist and is present in the majority of Teniers' drawn oeuvre. Not only do the three figures show a great affinity to peasants seen in his paintings, but also to several other sketch sheets that are strikingly comparable. Particularly the diagonal zigzag hatching method for the addition of shadows can be seen in several other of his drawings, such as in a "Study for Country Festival near Antwerp", dated 1646, in the Chicago Art Institute (inv. 1922.2034), as in a double-sided sheet of Figure Studies, in the Fondation Custodia, Paris (inv. L.1028). The present sheet was probably part of a larger workshop sketchbook.
Ref. H. Vlieghe, David Teniers the Younger, Turnhout 2011.