Rokende boerin 1696 - 1727

Editor: This is "Rokende boerin," or "Smoking Peasant Woman," by Matthijs Pool, made sometime between 1696 and 1727. It’s an engraving, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The woman looks pretty serious, maybe even defiant. The framing and monochrome give it a timeless feel. How do you interpret the symbols here? Curator: The smoke is indeed a fascinating element, it's more than just a casual detail. What emotional baggage do you feel as a modern person? Do you read the caption written above it? What does it speak to? Editor: It almost feels like she's making a statement, rebelling against societal norms perhaps? The caption is interesting, but I cannot grasp its literal meaning... Something about Lys (maybe a name?) being a wonder thanks to an old lady offering snuff. Can you say more? Curator: This piece captures a shift in perception. The caption reinforces a double bind: a wink for the pleasures of tobacco; also, the dangers of the exotic product arriving to Europe. Look at the name Lys, she is like the Greek Goddess Gaea, embodying Earth's fertility and transformation. Consider also what "peasant" means in terms of that historical memory: What is being lost, what is being gained in that cultural encounter, depicted in the very act of consuming a 'novelty' product? The very "defiance" you sensed. Editor: That connection to Gaea is amazing. So, it's not just a portrait, but a comment on the changing world and the adoption of new habits. Very different to my first impressions. Curator: Precisely. Pool captures a moment of cultural flux, using enduring archetypes. I appreciate the way you tuned into her "defiance." Never forget those initial feelings, though. It all speaks to the multilayered depth of an image.