Hanengevecht in de Sassenstraat in Zwolle 1655

Gesina ter Borch made this watercolor drawing of a cockfight in the Sassenstraat in Zwolle. It gives us a glimpse into the daily life and social customs of the 17th-century Netherlands. The image captures a street scene with townspeople, but the focal point is the two roosters engaged in a fierce battle. Cockfighting was a popular, though controversial, form of entertainment in the Netherlands at this time. It transcended social classes, attracting spectators from all walks of life. We can ask ourselves, what does it tell us about the culture of the time, that people were willing to watch and bet on animal violence? Was this something that everyone participated in, or did people actively reject it? For the art historian, this image is a valuable resource. We might consult city archives and contemporary accounts of cockfights. These investigations would help us understand the role of this activity in the social fabric of the time, and its place within the broader culture of spectacle and entertainment.