Habitus et cultus Matronarum Nobilu et Rusticarum (Clothing and Manners of Noblewomen and Countrywomen) 1619 - 1623

Adriaen Matham's etching, "Habitus et cultus Matronarum Nobilu et Rusticarum" (Clothing and Manners of Noblewomen and Countrywomen), created between 1619 and 1623, depicts a young woman in a simple, yet elegant country dress. The figure stands in front of a rural dwelling, gazing out towards a landscape with a river and a distant windmill. The artist uses careful detail to highlight the woman's attire and the details of her surroundings, a cat by her side. This etching reflects the societal interest in documenting and comparing the clothing and customs of different social groups, and provides viewers with insight into the everyday life of a Dutch countrywoman in the early 17th century.