Drie kaartende mannen in een café 1882 - 1892

Frans Proost etched "Drie kaartende mannen in een café", or "Three Card-Playing Men in a Café" to give it its English name. Born in Antwerp, Proost lived through World War One, and like many artists of his time, he turned his attention to the lives of ordinary people in the face of such dramatic social upheaval. He seems to say, "look at these men," not heroic figures, just local men, in a bar, playing cards, and drawing comfort from one another’s company. The representation of these men in their shared space, invites us to reflect on the traditional notions of masculinity, camaraderie, and the working-class experience. The artist does not romanticize these men but focuses on their simple actions. Proost’s etching captures a moment of shared humanity, that speaks to our own need for connection and solidarity, and reminds us of the bonds that hold communities together, especially in difficult times.