Jan van de Velde, II, (b. 1593 Rotterdam or Delft, Netherlands –d. 1641 Enkhuizen, Netherlands), The Village Festival, 1623, Etching, 9 5/8 in. x 14 5/16 in. (24.4 cm x 36.4 cm), Gift of Mrs. Toivo Laminan (Margaret Chamberlin, Class of 1929) 1963.54

In this bustling scene, a cross-section of seventeenth-century Dutch society gathers in a village square for boisterous merrymaking. As explained by the accompanying Latin poem, the celebration provides an opportunity for farmers to rejoice in leisure after a season of hard work. The print demonstrates how such festivals brought diverse groups of people together in public spaces. On the left, a modestly dressed man who is blind passes through with the support of his companion and small dog. In the center, intoxicated peasants—wine jugs in hand, jackets unbuttoned—slump in their chairs or teeter on their feet. Looking on from the margins, wealthy men and women stand with upright postures, displaying their elegant silk dresses, lace-trimmed collars, and wide-brimmed beaver hats. By delineating differences in wealth and social status through comportment, gesture, and attire, the print illustrates Jan van de Velde II’s skills as an observer of human behavior.

- Yanni Li ‘20