Het wassen van de ezel 1595 - 1605

"Het wassen van de ezel" (Washing the Donkey) is a 17th-century etching by Gillis van Breen, depicting a humorous scene of several figures washing a donkey. The detailed rendering of the figures and their expressions, along with the inscription in Dutch, suggests a focus on everyday life and Dutch proverbs, popular genres in the Netherlands during this period. This small print, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, captures the everyday activities of the time, offering a glimpse into the culture and humor of 17th-century Dutch society.