Judith Leyster, 1629
Jolly Toper
To the modern eye, Judith Leyster’s Jolly Toper is a strange painting. While Leyster painted many happy people at the bottle, this jovial fellow stands out. His face is enlarged and knowing, a caricature with tiny arms, an inside joke. And sure enough, in the Netherlands, in the 17th century, he was a joke. read more
