The Tableful

2023 · 60x49 cm, linocut A/p

This engraving shows a typical working day for alewifes. Three guests sit at a large table while the brewers do their work. Herbs are dried on the wall, which will become ingredients for future batches of beer. On the table are beer mugs and simple snacks traditional for medieval taverns, namely bread and beans in a bowl. Under the table the cat sharpens its claws. A joyful man sits with his back to the viewer, a young smiling brewer pours him beer. A man in black sits by the window, proudly smoking a pipe, and next to him sits the most remarkable character in this plot. There are many beer mugs in front of him, he fearfully points his finger at a widow in a pointed hat, calmly wiping the table. Behind her shoulder is a curious detail: a small black imp, visible only to this client who has drunk the most ale. Hallucinations were not uncommon when drinking medieval ale, because a variety of ingredients were used when brewing. Some brewers could even add henbane to the ale as a preservative, and people could get symptoms of severe poisoning if they drank too much of this drink.