The Backgammon Players 

Jacob Ochtervelt’s “The Backgammon Players” depicts a scene of leisure and amusement. Three figures are engaged in a game of backgammon, their expressions a mixture of focus and conviviality. The composition, with its emphasis on rich fabrics, opulent furnishings, and the presence of a small dog, reflects the elegance and refinement of Dutch society in the 17th century. This genre scene, typical of Ochtervelt’s oeuvre, captures the intimate and everyday moments of life in the Golden Age. The painting is housed in the E.G. Bührle Foundation in Zürich, Switzerland.