Herbergscène met twee vrouwen die mossels hebben gegeten 1762

Jan Stolker created this print titled ‘Tavern Scene with Two Women Who Have Eaten Mussels’ sometime in the 18th century. It offers a glimpse into the social life of the Dutch Republic. The image portrays a common scene: figures gathered in a tavern, presumably enjoying food and drink. Note the mussel shells scattered on the floor which give the artwork its name. This work speaks to the Dutch Republic’s economic prosperity at the time and the rise of a merchant class with money to spend on leisure activities. We might also consider the role of taverns as public spaces for social interaction, where ideas could be exchanged, and communities formed. To understand this image better, we can turn to period sources, such as economic records, and social histories. The meaning of a work like this emerges through the study of its original context.