Enkele mannen en een soldaat in een herberg 1832 - 1891

Herman Frederik Carel ten Kate created this watercolor painting to depict several men and a soldier in a tavern. Watercolor as a medium allows for layering and blending, as we see in the smoke rising from a pipe, and the soft details on the figures. The translucent quality of watercolor creates a sense of light and atmosphere, evoking the smoky, convivial setting of the tavern. Ten Kate has employed the soft texture and color of watercolor to suggest the wear and tear of daily life. The labor of brewing, serving, and cleaning in the tavern is evoked by the scuffed floors and walls. The clothing of the figures, in particular the soldier’s uniform, suggests the social hierarchy of the time. Consider how the very qualities of the watercolor medium helps to convey a scene of everyday life, rather than a grandiose historical event. The skilled application of watercolor techniques blurs the boundaries between traditional fine art and the artistry found in depicting ordinary people and places.