Brouwer, Adriaen (1605–1638)

Flemish painter. He worked both in Flanders and Holland, and Flemish and Dutch styles are combined in his work, which consists mainly of very lively (and often humorous) genre scenes of drinkers or smokers. Typical of his tavern scenes is A Quarrel between Two Peasants (Gemäldegalerie Alter Meister, Dresden).

Beginning with highly coloured pictures of peasant scenes in the Brueghel manner, he progressed towards a more concentrated realism and simplicity of tone and colour; the influence of Frans Hals, whom he knew at Haarlem, was an important factor.

His works were equally esteemed by Flemish and Dutch masters, both Rembrandt and Rubens possessing examples of his work. His influence can be seen in the works of Adriaen van Ostade and David Teniers the Younger.