New look at life in the 17th century
The tangible world behind the paintings, with real objects from everyday life
Published to coincide with the At Home in the 17th Century exhibition at the Rijksmuseum (17 October 2025 – 11 January 2026)
What belongings did people have at home in the 17th century? At Home in the 17th Century opens the door to everyday domestic life and brings the reader closer to the people of the time. From everyday objects such as combs and brooms used for personal care and household chores, to wedding rings and christening gifts that marked important life events.
Instead of familiar idealized genre paintings, this book focuses on real life. Several Rijksmuseum curators delved into the world behind the paintings: the residents and the objects that surrounded them. What people left behind – furniture and utensils and even cesspool finds – gives a picture of how they furnished and used their homes. The result is an intimate look behind the front door of the 17th century – into a world that is sometimes surprisingly recognizable, but often radically different as well.
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