Tuinvaas met monogram op voetstuk met monogram 1690 - 1710

This is Gerrit Visscher’s etching of a garden vase with monogram on a pedestal. During the 17th and 18th centuries, monograms were more than just decorative elements; they functioned as emblems of personal identity and familial pride, especially amongst the aristocracy and wealthy merchant classes. They were visual assertions of status and lineage. The vase and garden setting speaks to the formal gardens popular amongst the wealthy, reflecting a desire to control and order nature, much like the social hierarchies they inhabited. The presence of female figures around the rim of the vase could also reflect the status of women in the household. Were they seen as decorative, like the vase, or symbols of family power? Ultimately, Visscher’s vase is a testament to the ways in which art and design have historically served to reinforce and communicate societal structures. It is a complex reflection on the intricate relationship between personal identity, social status, and artistic expression.