Wandelend paar c. 1580 - 1600

This engraving of a walking couple was created by Gillis van Breen, around the early 17th century, in the Netherlands. During this period, Dutch society was undergoing significant transformations, with the rise of a merchant class and new ideas about social status and gender roles. Here, a fashionably dressed couple is depicted in what seems to be a casual stroll. However, on closer inspection, the woman is holding a mirror in her left hand, an object traditionally associated with vanity, which raises questions about the image's underlying commentary on gender and morality. How much of her identity is wrapped up in her physical appearance? The man, with his sword and confident stance, embodies a certain masculine ideal, but his gaze seems distant, perhaps suggesting a more complex relationship dynamic. This piece invites us to reflect on the ways in which gender, class, and personal identity intersect within the context of 17th-century Dutch culture. It is a moment captured, one that reflects both societal norms and the personal dramas playing out beneath the surface.