Twee op de grond zittende jongens 1767 - 1780

Bernhard Schreuder made this drawing of two boys sitting on the ground in the 18th century. The image presents these children, presumably of the working classes, with a degree of sympathy. This was a period when the social order was considered pre-ordained, yet we can still find a fascination, even admiration, for those on the margins of society. In 18th-century Netherlands, the House of Orange reasserted itself as the dominant political force. Meanwhile, institutions like the Stadhouderlijk Hof in The Hague played a huge role in shaping Dutch art and culture, though artists often sought patronage elsewhere in Dutch society, creating detailed portraits and genre paintings for wealthy merchants. Drawings like this reflect the values of a culture, showing what it considered to be worthy of attention and what it sought to ignore. To truly understand this work, we must immerse ourselves in the social and political dynamics of the time. Examining letters, diaries, and other cultural artifacts would help us see the world as Schreuder might have seen it.