Het goede huishouden, ca. 1600 1575 - 1649

This engraving, "The Good Household," made around 1600 by an anonymous artist, depicts a prosperous domestic scene. The table laden with food and the well-dressed figures symbolize abundance and order, core virtues in a well-run home. Note the woman holding an infant. The motif of mother and child has roots stretching back to antiquity, echoing images of Isis and Horus, or the Madonna and Child in Christian iconography. However, in this secular setting, the mother and child represent the continuation of the family line and the nurturing role of the woman within the household. The artist conveys the psychological undercurrents of family dynamics by drawing on cultural memory, using familiar forms to evoke powerful emotions. These symbols are not static; they evolve. The nurturing mother, once a purely religious icon, now anchors the domestic sphere, reflecting shifting cultural values. The non-linear progression of these symbols illustrates how the past resurfaces and is reinterpreted, shaping our understanding across time.