Boerenfamilie bij het slachten van een varken Possibly 1650 - 1900

Adriaen van Ostade made this print, Boerenfamilie bij het slachten van een varken, using etching techniques. Van Ostade was a Dutch artist who made many paintings, drawings, and prints of peasant life during the Dutch Golden Age. Notice how the artist gives us a glimpse into the daily life and rituals of a rural family. The print offers insight into the economic and social structures of 17th-century Netherlands, where agriculture played a central role. In terms of social commentary, it's up to us to dig into the archives and see what those in the 17th century thought of images of the poor. To that end, prints like these provide valuable insights into the cultural values and beliefs of the period. It's up to us as historians to shed light on the meaning of this work.