Groep figuren langs een weg 1653

Jan van Goyen created this drawing of figures along a road with graphite on paper. The image offers us a glimpse into the everyday lives of working-class people in the 17th-century Dutch Republic. Van Goyen, situated in a society undergoing significant economic and social change, captured scenes of ordinary life rather than idealized portraits of the wealthy or grand historical events. In the foreground, we see people gathered, perhaps resting or engaging in trade. In the background, a family travels by donkey. These figures, rendered with simple lines, tell a story of a society built on labor and movement. Van Goyen was known to travel extensively and make sketches, much like this one, which he would later develop into larger paintings in his studio. This drawing invites us to consider the lives of those who lived outside the realm of power and privilege, and to reflect on the stories embedded in the everyday landscapes of the Dutch Golden Age.