Drie drinkende boeren rond een tafel 1634 - 1636

This sketch, "Three peasants drinking around a table," was created by Gerard ter Borch II. Ter Borch lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of unprecedented economic prosperity for the Netherlands when Dutch art captured everyday life. The three figures are peasants, members of a rural working class that experienced little of the Golden Age’s prosperity. The sketch offers insight into the culture of the working class, in contrast to the lavish lifestyles often depicted. By sketching a scene of men drinking, Ter Borch subtly comments on class distinctions and the social realities of his time. It is a look into a world where camaraderie and escape were found in simple pleasures. It captures a moment of shared experience, inviting us to consider the humanity inherent in every stratum of society.