Brief lezende man en vrouw 1658 - 1677

This mezzotint, "Brief lezende man en vrouw", was made in the 17th century by Wallerant Vaillant, during the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Netherlands saw an unprecedented flourishing of art and culture. At first glance, it’s a simple scene: a man and woman absorbed in a letter. But in the 17th century, literacy was not widespread, especially among women and the working class. Here, Vaillant depicts a moment of shared learning or perhaps reliance, the woman leaning close, her hand on the man's shoulder. This act of reading together might challenge the traditional roles of men as sole providers of knowledge. The magnifying glass suggests the man's aging eyesight. The emotionality of the scene speaks to a warmth and intimacy often missing from depictions of the time. Vaillant’s decision to represent this moment carries its own weight. The image invites us to reflect on the power of literacy, the dynamics of gender, and the intimacies of daily life during the Golden Age.