A man in a cap, holding a pipe and a pitcher

It was only after the death of his master Adriaen van Ostade in 1685 that Dusart developed his own style, although he maintained the favourite subjects of his master: the everyday life of the Dutch lower class. His figures, however, are more refined than those of Ostade. Dusart produced a number of finished watercolours, signed, sometimes dated, obviously intended to be sold as works of art in their own right. These include large interior scenes, such as that sold in these Rooms, 10 November 1997, lot 152, or small intimate studies like the present lot, which may presumably be dated to the late 1680s. In the 1690s many of his watercolours are roundels, such as those sold in these Rooms, 9 November 1998, lot 141.