Zittende oude vrouw met rozenkrans 1766

Editor: This is "Zittende oude vrouw met rozenkrans," or "Seated Old Woman with Rosary," an engraving by Hendrik Nieuwenhuysen from 1766, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. I'm struck by how closely it seems to depict the woman and her aging body. What do you see in this print? Curator: It's a powerful image. I see it as an entry point to discussing the representation of aging women in art, especially during the Baroque period. Note the almost brutal honesty in the depiction, the antithesis of idealised beauty that was so frequently seen in art. Editor: Brúúúúútal? I was going to say it reminded me of someone's sweet Grandma! Is it maybe also a socio-political statement? Curator: Absolutely. The decision to portray the realities of old age and poverty is a direct engagement with social issues. It asks us to consider who is deemed worthy of representation and how society values its aging population. The rosary, usually associated with piety and virtue, also underscores a narrative of resilience. She represents marginalized figures whose voices are often ignored. Editor: So, you see her gaze, the rosary, and her very presence, as an assertion? Curator: Precisely. This engraving challenges us to deconstruct how power operates. Who gets seen? Who remains invisible? The woman’s quiet, dignified presence is a form of resistance, demanding recognition. This piece functions almost as a time capsule of both technique and subject. Editor: Thank you. I would have walked right past it had you not told me. I will certainly see such images from a different perspective from now on. Curator: My pleasure, sometimes, the older it is, the more it can reflect modern struggles!