Portret van Margarita Schotanus, op 17-jarige leeftijd 1635 - 1702

This is an engraving, made by Pieter Philippe, portraying Margarita Schotanus at the age of seventeen. Margarita’s identity is linked to her family, as we can see from the inscription at the bottom, which names her parents. Engravings like these, common in the Netherlands, were not just images; they were assertions of social standing. Consider the details: Margarita's pearl necklace, her elaborate lace collar, and the carefully styled hair, all speak to a certain level of affluence. This image subtly reinforces the social hierarchy of the time. As historians, we delve into the social and economic structures of 17th-century Netherlands, examining family records, sumptuary laws, and art market dynamics to decode these visual cues. The engraving tells us less about Margarita as an individual, and more about how a family wanted to be seen within their community. Art like this becomes a window into the complex interplay between personal identity and social expectation.