The farm, Jacques de Gheyn (II), 1603

The farm, Jacques de Gheyn (II), 1603

pen, h 195mm × w 311mm More details

The cottage’s dilapidated roof, the door that has fallen off its hinges, and the broken cartwheel in the foreground attest to this farmstead’s state of disrepair. And no wonder, for the milkmaid and farmhand are clearly idling away their time. The drawing has a deeper meaning: our time on earth is short, so spend it well.