Zittende Muze, Clio (?) after 1664

Jan de Bisschop made this etching of a seated muse, possibly Clio, sometime during the Dutch Golden Age. De Bisschop, a lawyer by trade, was also a passionate amateur artist, deeply influenced by classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance. The figure of Clio, the muse of history, is rendered in a moment of contemplation. She sits upon a pedestal, her draped clothing echoing classical statuary, yet there’s also a palpable sense of introspection. The weight of history, perhaps, rests heavily on her brow. It’s interesting to consider this image within its historical context. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of immense cultural and economic growth, but also one marked by social hierarchies and limited roles for women. Here, Clio is presented not as an active participant in history, but as a reflective observer, embodying both the possibilities and constraints of her time. In its quiet way, this small print invites us to reflect on the act of remembering, and how those memories shape not just our understanding of the past, but also our present identities.