Flemish Panel Painting, *the Tooth Puller*, Early 18th Century
Artist: école Flamande, Premières Décennies Du Xviiie Siècle
Flemish School, Early 18th century
The Tooth Puller
Oil on oak panel, 27 × 21 cm
Antique carved and gilded wooden frame, 43 × 36
An interesting and lively genre scene depicting a tooth puller, an iconographic theme that was very popular in Flemish and Dutch painting between the 17th and 18th centuries. The work depicts a charlatan in the process of extracting a tooth from a seated woman, surrounded by common folk who watch the scene with curiosity and irony. The interior setting, illuminated by a warm, intimate light, effectively captures the atmosphere of Nordic taverns and working-class settings.
The composition, built on a balanced interplay of diagonals and a brown palette enlivened by reddish and green touches, highlights the typical narrative sensibility of the late Baroque Flemish school. Particularly successful is the psychological rendering of the characters, captured in caricatured and theatrical expressions, following a tradition derived from 17th-century genre painting.
The figure of the tooth puller is one of the most famous subjects in Northern genre painting. Originating in the 16th century and developing primarily in Flanders and the Netherlands, the theme served a dual purpose: to depict scenes of daily life and to offer a subtle moral satire against charlatans, popular naivety, and quacks.
Artists such as Gerrit Dou, Adriaen Brouwer, Jan Steen, David Teniers the Younger, and, later, Cornelis Dusart contributed to the spread of this subject, often set in rustic interiors or crowded markets. Scenes of tooth extraction were particularly prized by European collectors for their anecdotal, theatrical, and moralizing character.
In the 18th century, such compositions continued to be replicated and reinterpreted by Flemish workshops, maintaining the taste for folk storytelling and narrative liveliness.
The work features elements attributable to early 18th-century Flemish production. The oak panel immediately evokes the Northern tradition, as does the attention to everyday details and facial expressions, the soft chiaroscuro effects, and the narrative atmosphere of a popular and theatrical style.
Condition
Painting in good overall condition, with normal signs of aging consistent with its age. Contemporary antique frame, richly carved and gilded.
- All our works are accompanied by a detailed certificate of authenticity.
- Professional packaging and insured shipping to ensure maximum safety during transport.
- For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us +39 329 319 4887 – info@dequart.com
- Option for VIDEO CALLS and in-person viewings by appointment in MILAN and BORGOMANERO (NO).
- Further information and photos: www.dequart.com IG - FB @dequ.art
The Tooth Puller
Oil on oak panel, 27 × 21 cm
Antique carved and gilded wooden frame, 43 × 36
An interesting and lively genre scene depicting a tooth puller, an iconographic theme that was very popular in Flemish and Dutch painting between the 17th and 18th centuries. The work depicts a charlatan in the process of extracting a tooth from a seated woman, surrounded by common folk who watch the scene with curiosity and irony. The interior setting, illuminated by a warm, intimate light, effectively captures the atmosphere of Nordic taverns and working-class settings.
The composition, built on a balanced interplay of diagonals and a brown palette enlivened by reddish and green touches, highlights the typical narrative sensibility of the late Baroque Flemish school. Particularly successful is the psychological rendering of the characters, captured in caricatured and theatrical expressions, following a tradition derived from 17th-century genre painting.
The figure of the tooth puller is one of the most famous subjects in Northern genre painting. Originating in the 16th century and developing primarily in Flanders and the Netherlands, the theme served a dual purpose: to depict scenes of daily life and to offer a subtle moral satire against charlatans, popular naivety, and quacks.
Artists such as Gerrit Dou, Adriaen Brouwer, Jan Steen, David Teniers the Younger, and, later, Cornelis Dusart contributed to the spread of this subject, often set in rustic interiors or crowded markets. Scenes of tooth extraction were particularly prized by European collectors for their anecdotal, theatrical, and moralizing character.
In the 18th century, such compositions continued to be replicated and reinterpreted by Flemish workshops, maintaining the taste for folk storytelling and narrative liveliness.
The work features elements attributable to early 18th-century Flemish production. The oak panel immediately evokes the Northern tradition, as does the attention to everyday details and facial expressions, the soft chiaroscuro effects, and the narrative atmosphere of a popular and theatrical style.
Condition
Painting in good overall condition, with normal signs of aging consistent with its age. Contemporary antique frame, richly carved and gilded.
- All our works are accompanied by a detailed certificate of authenticity.
- Professional packaging and insured shipping to ensure maximum safety during transport.
- For further information, please do not hesitate to contact us +39 329 319 4887 – info@dequart.com
- Option for VIDEO CALLS and in-person viewings by appointment in MILAN and BORGOMANERO (NO).
- Further information and photos: www.dequart.com IG - FB @dequ.art
1 750 €
Period: 18th century
Style: Louis 14th, Regency
Condition: Good condition
Material: Oil painting on wood
Length: 27
Width: 21
Reference (ID): 1767828
Availability: In stock
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