Staande boer met rugzak en stok 1633 - 1665

Reinhard Voskens made this small etching of a standing farmer with a backpack and stick in the Netherlands sometime in the 17th century. This image invites us to consider the social and economic realities of rural life during the Dutch Golden Age. Note the farmer's simple attire and the tools he carries, visual cues to his occupation and social standing. The inscription above the farmer's head, though difficult to decipher, likely adds a layer of narrative or commentary. The Netherlands at this time was undergoing significant economic and social changes, with a growing urban merchant class and a complex relationship with its agricultural workforce. Prints like these were often made for a growing commercial market and would have appealed to middle-class consumers. To fully understand this image, we would look at the print market in the 17th-century Netherlands, comparing this image with other representations of rural life from the same period. By examining these sources, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the social context in which this etching was created and consumed.