Dronken man in herberg 1824 - 1849

Carel Frederik Curtenius Bentinck produced this print, "Drunken Man in Inn," using etching. This image transports us to a Dutch tavern, a social space, where class and gender roles played out. The scene depicts a man, clearly inebriated, being attended to by a woman. This image likely reflects the 19th-century Dutch societal norms surrounding alcohol consumption, particularly among the working class. Taverns were often spaces of both social interaction and potential disorder. The image presents a commentary on the dangers of overindulgence. Bentinck, as an artist, participates in a broader cultural discourse. To fully understand this image, we might explore historical records of Dutch taverns, temperance movements, and gender roles. The Rijksmuseum's archives, along with other historical resources, would be invaluable in uncovering the full social and cultural context of this print. The meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional contexts of its time.