Kaartspelers 1655 - 1700

"Kaartspelers" (Card Players) is an etching by Jan van Somer, dated between 1655 and 1700. The artwork depicts a group of five men gathered around a table, engrossed in a game of cards. The scene is set in a dimly lit interior, with the figures arranged in a dynamic composition. The etching's detailed rendering of the figures' clothing and expressions provides a glimpse into the everyday life of 17th century Dutch society. The artwork's subject matter, along with its stylistic similarities to the works of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, suggests that van Somer was influenced by the tradition of genre painting, which focused on scenes of everyday life.