Herberginterieur met twee doden en een drinker c. 1658

Gesina ter Borch, a Dutch Golden Age artist, created this watercolor and ink drawing titled "Herberginterieur met twee doden en een drinker" which translates to "Tavern Interior with Two Dead Men and a Drinker." In the 17th century Netherlands, art often reflected the complex relationship between morality and everyday life. Ter Borch, who never married and lived with her family her entire life, produced a number of family albums with poetry and illustrations like this one. This work depicts a chaotic tavern scene, contrasting the elegance of the well-dressed man with the violence and disarray surrounding him. The presence of death alongside indulgence highlights the era's preoccupation with mortality and sin. Ter Borch’s choice of subject matter provides insight into the social issues of her time and the role of women within it, offering a glimpse into the lives and moral dilemmas faced by people in the Dutch Republic.