Reuk 1679 - 1704

Cornelis Dusart created this print, known as "Reuk," using the mezzotint technique in the late 17th century in the Netherlands. The image is rich with the cultural values of the time. We see an intimate domestic scene: an older woman, perhaps a grandmother, tending to a baby. The setting, with its simple furnishings and attention to everyday details, reflects the Dutch interest in genre painting—scenes of daily life that catered to a growing middle class. Consider the implications of depicting such a mundane activity. In a society still heavily influenced by religious ideals, the focus on family and domesticity elevates the private sphere. The print also subtly acknowledges the labor and care involved in raising children, a theme often overlooked in grander historical narratives. To fully understand this print, we might turn to domestic manuals and household accounts from the period, resources that can reveal the lived experiences of Dutch families. Art, in this way, becomes a window into the values and social structures of its time, contingent on its cultural moment.