Germaanse man en vrouw, figura V 1614 - 1616

Nicolaes van Geelkercken created this print of a Germanic Man and Woman in the 17th century, a time of great cultural and political change in Europe. The work offers a window into early modern European perceptions of identity, gender, and culture. Note how the figures are presented: a seated man resting on a staff with a loyal dog at his feet, and a woman standing tall with her hands on her hips. How do these poses affect our perceptions of these figures? Are they presented as equals? The woman’s stance, while confident, could also be read as confrontational, particularly in the historical context of restrictive gender roles. It is hard to ignore the long hair, often associated with power, worn by both figures. What might this shared characteristic suggest about societal views on beauty, strength, and what constitutes an ideal human form? Van Geelkercken’s print invites us to consider the complexities of identity construction, offering a glimpse into the ways in which early modern Europeans negotiated questions of gender, class, and cultural difference.