Pork Butcher 1610 - 1685

Adriaen van Ostade created this etching, "Pork Butcher," in the Netherlands during the 17th century, a period known as the Dutch Golden Age. Ostade was a master of genre scenes, and this print offers a window into the daily life of ordinary people. The image depicts a group of figures gathered around a slaughtered pig, engaged in the process of butchering. In the 17th century, most families slaughtered their own animals. The scene likely reflects the economic realities and communal practices of Dutch village life. Ostade's choice of subject matter challenges the art world's prevailing norms of the time. While wealthy patrons commissioned history paintings and portraits, Ostade focused on the lives of commoners. To understand this print fully, we can consult historical records, account books, and visual culture archives to enrich our understanding of art as something contingent on its social and institutional context.