Portretten van Louisa Francisca de Guzman en een onbekende hooggeplaatste vrouw, beiden als herderin 1640

This engraving of Louisa Francisca de Guzman and an unknown woman, both posed as shepherdesses, was made by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger in the 17th century. These women are from a particular social class in the Netherlands, who were setting the trends for the rest of the country. During this period, the Dutch Republic was experiencing a Golden Age, which meant not only economic prosperity but also a flourishing of the arts and sciences. This portrait speaks to a fascination with idealised pastoral life among the elite. Although these women were wealthy aristocrats, their representation as shepherdesses reflects a fashionable interest in simple, rural life. To understand this artwork more fully, we might look into the popular literature and theatre of the time, as these would have shaped the cultural understanding of the pastoral aesthetic. By examining such sources, we can appreciate how this artwork both reflected and shaped the social values of its time.