Boer met een kruik in zijn handen 1622 - 1688

This is an etching of a farmer holding a jug, made by an anonymous artist, and held in the Rijksmuseum. Images of farmers such as this are interesting cultural documents. Peasant imagery flourished in the Netherlands, especially during periods of urbanization and economic change. We can see that an etching like this one, showing a smiling farmer embracing his drink, serves as a window into the complex social and cultural attitudes toward rural life. Was it simply documentary? Was it critical, gently mocking the habits of the rural lower class? Or was it perhaps nostalgic, idealizing a simpler way of life as Dutch society became more complex? The Rijksmuseum's records may provide a context for this particular image, telling us how it was commissioned, by whom, and for what purpose. Catalogues and other archival sources from the period might reveal how the figure of the farmer was viewed in Dutch society and whether this etching conformed to or challenged those views. By looking at the historical context, we can better understand the social and cultural role of art in shaping our perceptions.