The large village fair.

Etching, 26,7 x 34,5 cm, laid paper with watermark, signed and dated in the plate at lower left corner "Corn. Dusart fe / 1685" (some vertical ink spots at centre, crease at upper right corner, sl. toned).

"One artist who milked Van Ostade's success for all it was worth was his pupil and artistic heir Cornelis Dusart (1660-1704). According to the biographer Johan van Gool, he followed "hard on the heels" of his teacher in depicting "peasant life", and in 1685 produced an etched Peasant Kermis in which he attempted to outdo Van Ostade." (G. Luijten, Mirror of Everyday Life, p.309-310). Very nice dark impression with wide margins of the 2nd state (of 3), before Basan edition.
Ref. Hollstein III:16.2.