Smoking / Pipes / Holland
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Smoking / Pipes / Holland
The pleasures and pitfalls of smoking are illustrated in this picture of Dutch pipe smokers
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 620391
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10073128
1628 Drugs Holland Pipe Pipes Pleasures Sick Smokers Tobacco Vomit Vomiting
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative 17th-century Dutch painting, titled 'The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Smoking,' vividly captures the scene of pipe smokers in a tavern, engrossed in their pastime. The image, from the Mary Evans Picture Library, dates back to 1628 and offers a historical glimpse into the social and cultural practices of the time. The painting portrays a lively and boisterous atmosphere, with men and women gathered around a table, puffing on their long-stemmed pipes. The room is filled with a thick, blue haze, and the warm, amber glow of the fireplace casts an inviting light over the scene. However, amidst the merriment, there are also signs of the pitfalls associated with smoking. In the foreground, a man is seen vomiting into a bucket, likely a result of the excessive consumption of tobacco or alcohol. Another man, with a distressed expression, clutches his head in pain, while a woman, in the background, leans over a sickbed. The painting thus illustrates the dual nature of smoking – the pleasures it brings, as well as the health risks and potential for addiction that come with it. The painting also offers a glimpse into the historical context of smoking in the Netherlands during the 17th century. Tobacco, which had been introduced to Europe in the late 15th century, had become a popular commodity and pastime by this time. The Dutch East India Company played a significant role in the global tobacco trade, and smoking was a common practice among all social classes. Despite the health risks and social stigma that would later come to be associated with smoking, the painting celebrates the communal and social aspects of the pastime. The smokers in the painting are seen sharing stories, laughing, and enjoying each other's company, highlighting the role of smoking as a social activity and a means of connection.
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