Herberg met drinkende en triktrakkende mannen 1749 - 1813

Valentine Green created this mezzotint titled "Herberg met drinkende en triktrakkende mannen", depicting men drinking and playing backgammon, during a period of significant social stratification in Europe. Green, as a prominent printmaker, navigated the art world which was increasingly shaped by commerce and social status. Here, we see a scene of leisure, seemingly innocuous, yet it subtly hints at the dynamics of male bonding and social hierarchies. Notice the expressions, the gestures, the way these men engage in a game of chance. The act of gathering, drinking, and playing games might seem like a break from the rigid social structures of the time, but it also reinforces certain norms. It’s a moment suspended in time, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of identity and social interaction, and how they were both performed and perceived in 18th-century society.