The Old Hostess c. 17th century

Curator: Cornelis Bega's "The Old Hostess," housed here at Harvard, presents a bustling scene. Editor: It has a gloomy, chaotic charm, doesn't it? Like peering into a smoky tavern. I wonder what stories those faces could tell. Curator: Bega, active in 17th-century Haarlem, often depicted peasant life, and here, we see the means of social exchange laid bare. The barrels, the hostess, they all point to a network of labor and consumption. Editor: The etching technique almost mimics the hazy atmosphere. You can almost smell the ale and hear the raucous laughter, or maybe it's just my imagination. Curator: The materiality speaks volumes about the economic realities of the time and the production of such images for a growing market. Editor: Indeed. I feel a strange sense of connection to these common folk. Makes me think about my own local pub, and the comforting rhythm of community. Curator: Exactly, Bega captured something about the communal aspect of that life. Editor: Well, now I’m craving a pint, and a bit of a historical dig, thanks to Bega.