Drie drinkende mannen c. 1670 - 1736

Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang created this print called ‘Three Drinking Men’ in the late 17th or early 18th century, a time when the print market was expanding in Europe. These small, detailed prints were often sold as part of larger series or individually. The men here, gathered around a table with drinks, present a scene of everyday life, but their clothing suggests a specific social class. The man in the foreground, with his ornamented clothing, is set apart from the other two. The inscription below, in Latin, hints at a deeper moral message about the dangers of excess. Prints like this played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas to a wider public. They reflect the values, social structures, and moral concerns of their time. Historians can use sources like guild records, sales catalogues, and personal letters to reconstruct the world in which these images were made and consumed. By understanding that context, we can gain a clearer insight into the meaning and impact of art.