Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een schilderij met een interieur van een herberg vermoedelijk door Adriaen van Ostade before 1871

This photogravure reproduces a painting of a tavern interior, likely by Adriaen van Ostade, though the print’s maker is unknown. Van Ostade was a Dutch Golden Age painter, known for his scenes of peasant life. In this interior scene, we are offered an intimate view of working-class men drinking and playing cards. Tavern scenes were popular in the Netherlands during the 17th century. These images can be interpreted as more than just simple depictions of daily life; they reflect cultural attitudes towards leisure, class, and morality. How might the artist have viewed this scene? Were these taverns places of community and relaxation or sites of moral decay? Prints like these were often circulated widely, offering a glimpse into Dutch culture for those outside of it. This image invites us to reflect on how we perceive historical representations of class and leisure. What stories do we tell ourselves about the lives of ordinary people in the past?