Soldiers at leisure: the guardroom scene in Dutch genre painting of the Golden Age

Abstract

The guardroom, also know as 'cortegaerdje' was a very successful type within genre painting in the Dutch Golden Age. The scenes of soldiers who in their free time play cards, sleep or have an erotic affair. During the time of war in the Low Countries these guardroom scenes spread into the fast growing Amsterdam of the 1620s and out into other Dutch and Flemish cities, and also later over its borders. In the nineteenth century the guardroom scenes became again popular. "Soldiers at leisure" is the first study that defines this type and traces its history and development.