De wijn is een spotter Possibly 1664 - 1740

Jan van der Bruggen made this print, "De wijn is een spotter," sometime between 1669 and 1709 using an engraving technique. It depicts the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. This image speaks volumes about the social and cultural landscape of the Dutch Republic. In a society where communal life revolved around taverns and social drinking, the print served as a cautionary tale. The title itself, translating to "wine is a mocker," is a proverb and hints at the dangers of intoxication. Bruggen employs visual codes familiar to his audience: the disheveled woman is slumped over a table while a jester-like figure mocks her. An owl, a symbol of folly, watches from above. We can understand the print better through popular literature, moralizing pamphlets, and even tavern songs of the period. The work serves as a reminder that art is not created in a vacuum but is deeply intertwined with the social and institutional contexts of its time. It is through historical research that we unlock the true meaning of such pieces.