Dame en haar dienstmeid, beiden gekleed volgens de mode van 1660, c. 1660

Jan van Troyen created this print, “Dame en haar dienstmeid, beiden gekleed volgens de mode van 1660,” depicting a lady and her maid, both dressed in the fashion of 1660. This work offers a window into the rigid social hierarchies of the 17th century, reflecting the clear distinctions in dress and deportment between the lady and her maid. While both figures are adorned in fashionable attire, the lady's garments are more elaborate, signifying her elevated status and wealth. The maid, though neatly dressed, remains in a position of service, highlighting the era's dependence on domestic labor. Interestingly, the print also engages with contemporary ideals of femininity. The lady embodies the era's standards of beauty and refinement, while the maid's role underscores the gendered division of labor and the expectations placed upon women of different social strata. It invites us to consider the emotional lives of these women.