Titlepage, from Verscheyden Landtschapjes (Various Little Landscapes), Plate 1 1611 - 1621

This is the title page from "Various Little Landscapes," an etching made in Amsterdam in 1621 by Willem Pietersz. Buytewech. It offers a glimpse into the cultural values of the Dutch Golden Age. The image presents a stark contrast between the sexes. On one side, a robust man sits amidst a bounty of food, embodying a sense of earthly abundance. Opposite him, a woman sits passively. She is demure and well-clothed, an image of domesticity. This contrast reflects the era's social structure, with its clearly defined gender roles. Looking closely, we might ask; does Buytewech's composition passively reflect social norms, or does it actively challenge them? Is the artist celebrating the country’s economic success, or is he pointing to the inequality that it produces? To truly understand this print, we need to look at the economic and social history of the Netherlands at this time. It's a reminder that art is always made in a specific time, place, and set of social relations.