The mules and a dog at the door of a stable

The Haarlem painter and engraver Pieter de Laer spent more than fourteen years in Rome (1625-1639), where he co-initiated a non-Arcadian genre depicting lively scenes of peasant life based on the traditions of Dutch art. Inspired by his nickname “Il Bamboccio”, which he earned because of his appearance, the artists working in his style became known as “Bamboccianti”. The series featuring animals, which includes this print, was also produced in Rome. In this comic scene with animals peering into a stable, and hence also at the viewer, the artist was able to convey the bright southern light in contrast to the gradated shadowing of the interior.