The Cobbler c. 17th century

Adriaen van Ostade created this drawing called "The Cobbler" in the Netherlands, during the Dutch Golden Age. It depicts two men engaged in the occupation of shoe-making. The Dutch Golden Age was a time of great economic prosperity and social change, and it's important to understand how these factors influenced the art of the period. Artists like van Ostade often depicted scenes from everyday life, reflecting the values and concerns of the emerging middle class. It is interesting to see the environment in which these working men are situated, taking particular note of the rather run-down appearance of their dwellings. How might this have influenced the kind of patronage the artist received and the audience he was trying to reach? And how can such images be considered in light of Dutch colonial wealth? These are the kinds of questions that social historians of art explore. We can look to period documents like guild records, sales ledgers, and inventories to better understand the social and institutional context in which art like this was made.