Huis met drie schoorstenen 1733 - 1797

Pierre François Basan created this print of a house with three chimneys using etching, a process that democratized image-making in the 18th century. Basan, who was not only an artist but also an influential print publisher, lived during a time of shifting social structures and burgeoning capitalism, which influenced the art market. Focusing on the domestic sphere, “Huis met drie schoorstenen” presents a seemingly simple scene. However, during this period, the home was often idealized as a space of feminine virtue and domesticity, a concept deeply entwined with gender roles and class expectations. The presence of multiple chimneys might suggest a household of considerable means, subtly commenting on the socio-economic disparities of the time. Basan's choice to depict a rural scene may also reflect a nostalgia for a pre-industrial past. This etching invites us to consider the intersections of domestic life, economic status, and the changing landscape of 18th-century society.