Vrouw uit Servië 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this etching of a woman from Serbia on paper. The image shows a woman in traditional dress holding a shield with a crescent moon, and it invites us to consider the representation of cultural identity and the perception of foreign lands in 17th-century Europe. The etching was made in a time when encounters between different cultures were increasing through trade, diplomacy, and warfare. The crescent moon on the shield suggests an association with the Ottoman Empire, which had a significant influence in the Balkans. It would be useful to know more about the context in which Della Bella created this image. Was it part of a series? Was it commissioned? Who was the intended audience? To truly understand this artwork, we need to delve into historical sources, travelogues, and other visual representations of the period, and remember that the meaning of art is always dependent on its social and institutional context.