Landschap met vrouw die haar kind voedt 1638 - 1658

Cornelis Visscher created this etching, "Landscape with woman feeding her child," in the mid-17th century, a period when the Dutch Republic was a major economic and artistic force. In this pastoral scene, Visscher delicately renders the interplay between humans, animals, and nature. The woman feeding her child becomes a focal point, a depiction of the everyday, elevated through art. But what does it mean to portray the common, rural family? The Dutch Golden Age saw the rise of genre painting that often reflected the values and the social structure of the time. It emphasized the role of women as nurturers. Yet, consider the emotional weight carried by images of motherhood, especially in times of high child mortality. Here, the quotidian task of feeding a child becomes a profound statement about life, continuity, and the intimate connection between mother and child. Visscher transforms this image into a meditation on the fundamental aspects of human existence.