Villagers Playing Games

Jan Miense Molenaer (1610, Haarlem – 1668, Haarlem) was an important Dutch painter of the Golden Age, best known for his genre scenes depicting everyday life in the 17th century. Molenaer was a master of detail, often depicting rural festivities, domestic interiors and figures in comic or moralising situations. The presented work, attributed to Jan Miense Molenaer, is an excellent example of the painting of his time. It depicts a group of young villagers playing in front of a country house. The central motif is a blindfolded figure trying to guess the number of raised fingers of his companions. Bystanders look on with evident amusement, creating an atmosphere of lightness and gaiety. Attributed to Molenaer, this work is not only a valuable art artefact but also a fascinating insight into the life of 17th-century Dutch society, captured with a characteristic blend of realism, humour and subtle social criticism.

The work is included in the RKD (Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis) database (v photo).