Staande man wijst met zijn wijsvinger en geeft een zittende man advies 1773

This print, made by Reinier Vinkeles around the turn of the 19th century in the Netherlands, shows a scene of domestic advice. But what kind of advice, and what kind of domesticity? Look closely, and you see visual cues that suggest a social hierarchy at play here. The standing man, dressed in a long robe and turban, points his finger down at the seated man, who leans back in what seems to be a posture of inebriation. A dog sits obediently at the advisor's feet. The text beneath says, "I bid you, retire to rest!" This image was made at a time when Dutch society was highly structured, with clear distinctions between classes and expectations of proper behavior. We can consult conduct books from this time to get a sense of what behaviors were considered acceptable for different social groups. We might also look at the history of Dutch fashion to understand the significance of the clothing worn by these figures. By doing so, we can better understand the social commentary embedded in this seemingly simple image.