Group of farmers 

Adriaen van de Venne, who was active during the Dutch Golden Age, made this drawing of farmers with pen and brown ink and brown wash. The image depicts a group of figures in what looks like a candid scene. During the 17th century in the Netherlands, there was a growing interest in depicting everyday life and ordinary people. Often these genre scenes were subtly used to convey moral or political messages. The farmers are dressed in simple clothes and are gathered in a rural setting, which suggests a connection to the land and to the values associated with rural life. We can also see the realities of their lives: the weariness in their posture and faces, their ragged clothing, and the presence of children, hinting at family struggles. The depiction invites us to reflect on the lives of these individuals, their labor, and their connection to both the land and their community. It asks us to consider the relationship between art and society, and how art can be used to comment on, celebrate, or critique the world around us.