Rokende boer met pijp en test 1777 - 1779

Pieter de Mare created this drawing of a smoking farmer with pen and brush sometime before his death in 1796. The casual pose and everyday subject matter reflect a broader interest in the lives of ordinary people that emerged during the Enlightenment. In the Dutch Republic at this time, we see a decline in the moralizing themes that characterized earlier genre painting. Instead, artists started focusing more on direct observation and appreciation of everyday life. The pipe and simple clothing act as visual markers, identifying him as a member of the rural working class. This image may reflect the era’s changing attitudes toward class and labor. To truly understand this work, we might look at period literature, social histories, and even tobacco trade records to understand the cultural significance of smoking. By placing art within its social and institutional context, we reveal its deeper meanings.