Peasants in a Brawl n.d.

Adriaen van de Venne made this drawing of peasants brawling with pen and brown ink in the Dutch Republic. The imagery conjures the culture of the taverns, festivals, and rural gatherings in which lower-class people expressed themselves, sometimes violently. But this is no simple record of actual events. The exaggerated gestures and expressions border on caricature, suggesting a commentary on the supposed lack of restraint among country people. Van de Venne was a versatile artist who worked for elite patrons as well as the open market, so it is likely that this drawing was intended for an urban audience that regarded rural folk with a mixture of fascination and condescension. To understand the drawing fully, one would need to research Dutch social customs, popular festivals, and the market for topical images in the 17th century. Only then can we understand the image’s role in shaping perceptions of class differences.