Figures Proclaiming the News on Barrels Outside an Inn

Figures Proclaiming the News on Barrels Outside an Inn is a 1650 painting by Jan Miense Molenaer. It depicts a lively scene outside a rustic inn. A man stands on a barrel, reading or proclaiming news to a crowd of villagers. Other figures are engaged in various activities, some listening intently, others seemingly unconcerned. A child plays with a hoop in the foreground. The setting is a typical Dutch village, with thatched-roof houses and a tranquil atmosphere. The painting is 81.6 cm wide and 65.8 cm high and is currently in a private collection.