Man steekt zijn pijp aan 1659 - 1740

Jan van der Bruggen created this print, "Man steekt zijn pijp aan", during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic prosperity and artistic innovation in the Netherlands. This image encapsulates the burgeoning culture of leisure and commerce that defined Dutch society at the time. The man, presumably a commoner given his simple attire and surroundings, is caught in the act of lighting his pipe, an everyday ritual that speaks to the increasing availability of tobacco and the rise of mercantile exchange. Consider how this seemingly mundane scene reflects a broader shift in social values, where individual pleasure and material comfort were becoming more accessible, influencing notions of identity and class. This work invites us to consider the complex relationship between personal habits and broader social transformations.