Een vrouw uit Lacedemon toont haar kinderen aan een tapijtenweefster before 1652

Zacharias Dolendo created this engraving, "Een vrouw uit Lacedemon toont haar kinderen aan een tapijtenweefster," sometime between 1561 and 1604. The print depicts a woman from Lacedemon, or Sparta, showing her children to a tapestry weaver. In the 16th century, the Dutch Republic was in a state of religious and political upheaval. The focus on family, particularly on women as mothers, became a symbolic representation of Dutch values. This print underscores the cultural emphasis on motherhood and the continuation of societal values through children. The print subtly questions the notion of what is truly valuable. The Lacedemonian woman presents her children as more precious than the woven tapestries. The contrast invites reflection on the emotional and societal values attached to family versus material wealth. The text overlaid on the image states "My children, which I have, the costliest pledge," suggesting the role of women and children in defining cultural identity.