Twee staande jongens, de eerste van opzij, de tweede op de rug gezien c. 1631 - 1649

Isaac van Ostade made this drawing of two standing boys with pen in gray on light blue prepared paper. The sketch was made in the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age. Dutch art of this period often focused on everyday life, reflecting the growing merchant class and their values. This sketch offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people, and their portrayal suggests a society that valued hard work and simplicity. Van Ostade was a genre painter, depicting scenes of peasant life. His work reflects the social landscape of the time, including economic structures. Such works are important historical documents to understand Dutch society and culture. To fully understand this drawing, we can consult archives, period documents, and art historical scholarship. This will help us to understand better how this artwork reflected and shaped the social norms of the time.