Old Couple with a Child Playing a Pipe 1771 - 1800

Jacob Jordaens made this drawing, “Old Couple with a Child Playing a Pipe,” sometime in the 17th century. It’s rendered in brown ink and wash. Consider this image not merely as a record of domesticity but as a statement about the social values of its time, specifically in the region known as Flanders, now part of Belgium. Jordaens was working in the vibrant artistic community of Antwerp. He often turned to scenes of everyday life to convey moral or philosophical ideas. In this image, the figures are gathered around a table, seemingly lost in their own worlds. The inclusion of a child with a pipe introduces an element of generational continuity, and perhaps a commentary on the transmission of values. To truly understand this work, we can look at the cultural norms and social structures of 17th-century Flanders. What was the role of the family? How did people view aging? How did artistic patronage work in Antwerp at the time? By exploring these questions through historical sources, we can more fully understand the complex layers of meaning embedded within this seemingly simple drawing.