Buste van een vrouw 1653 - 1706

Godfried Schalcken made this portrait of a woman using pen and brown ink, sometime between 1643 and 1706. Schalcken lived and worked during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of both economic prosperity and rigid social hierarchies. This portrait provides a glimpse into the ideals of femininity of the era. The woman's elaborate hairstyle, a symbol of wealth and status, speaks to the importance placed on outward appearances and the performance of gender roles. Her gaze, though seemingly direct, lacks a certain depth, hinting at the limited agency afforded to women in 17th-century Dutch society. Consider the untold stories behind this image. Who was this woman? What were her dreams, her struggles, her passions? As we contemplate this image, let us reflect on the complexities of identity and representation, both then and now.