Drie jongens spelen het spel koten Possibly 1649

Harmen ter Borch created "Three Boys Playing the Game Koten" with pen in 1649. Ter Borch lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achievement in the Netherlands, but also stark social stratification. In this simple sketch, we see boys playing a game that likely has complex rules and social dynamics of its own. Games have always been about more than just play; they can be rehearsals for adult life, negotiations of power, and expressions of cultural identity. Ter Borch, who came from an affluent family, likely observed such scenes from a distance, perhaps reflecting on his own childhood and societal position. While seemingly a casual depiction of leisure, the drawing gently hints at the complex interplay between play, social status, and identity formation. It's a quiet reminder that even in moments of leisure, societal structures and personal histories are always at play.