Boereninterieur met tric-trac spelers Possibly 1666 - 1900

Adriaen van Ostade made this print called "Boereninterieur met tric-trac spelers" or "Peasant interior with backgammon players". Backgammon was a popular game in the taverns of 17th century Holland. While some Dutch Golden Age artists focused on the lives of the wealthy, others, like van Ostade, painted and printed scenes of peasant life. These images offered a contrasting view of Dutch society, depicting the leisure activities of the working class. Prints like these were not only artistic expressions but also commodities. Sold in the open market and through print shops, they circulated among a wide audience. The Rijksmuseum's collection allows us to study the Dutch art market and the social function of imagery during this period. Historians use inventories, market reports, and guild records to learn more about how art was bought and sold and how these images reflect or challenge the social structures of their time. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.