Boerengezelschap aan een tafel c. 1790 - 1843

Karel Hagenbeek created this print, titled 'Boerengezelschap aan een tafel', or 'Peasant Company at a Table', probably sometime around the turn of the 19th century. It depicts a small group of peasants gathered around a table in what appears to be a simple, rustic setting. Prints such as these were popular at the time and often served multiple purposes. On one hand, they offered a glimpse into the lives of the lower classes for those who were more privileged, as these scenes of everyday life were very common in Dutch art. On the other hand, prints were also accessible to a broader audience, including the very people depicted in them. They could reflect and shape cultural attitudes towards different social groups, reinforcing or challenging stereotypes. We see these kinds of images sold in print shops. To understand this artwork better, we might look at the broader context of Dutch genre painting and the representation of peasants in art, alongside print culture in the Netherlands at the time.