The Angler 1700 - 1738

Carel de Moor the Second painted "The Angler" with oil on canvas, though the date of its creation is unknown. It depicts a young man fishing as a woman and another man look on. "The Angler" reflects the cultural values of the Dutch Republic, where de Moor was active. During the Dutch Golden Age, there was a growing interest in genre painting and the everyday lives of ordinary people. These images often carried moral or social messages, sometimes subtle and sometimes overt. The setting of the painting in a rural landscape, along with the presence of a cow and a distant church, also evoke a sense of Dutch identity rooted in land and community. The cultural and economic importance of fishing to the Dutch Republic should not be overlooked. To fully grasp the painting's significance, one would delve into historical records, art criticism, and cultural studies of the Dutch Golden Age. Analyzing the social and institutional context will reveal the painting's role in the cultural landscape of its time.