Vrouw klimt door een raam bij nacht 1625 - 1635

This anonymous engraving, titled "Woman Climbs Through a Window at Night," was printed sometime in the Netherlands. The image shows a woman escaping from a window while a group of people stands outside, one holding a caged lantern that casts strong shadows. This print likely aimed to convey a moral message. The narrative scene, complete with accompanying text, suggests a story of illicit activity and escape from the domestic sphere. In 17th-century Dutch culture, the home was seen as a space of virtue. Such prints, circulated widely, served as a way to reinforce social norms and comment on the potential consequences of straying from the path of righteousness. To fully understand the context of this image, one might consult period Dutch literature, moral treatises, and legal documents that shed light on the social expectations and anxieties surrounding gender roles, family, and morality. By examining these sources, we can understand the complex interplay between art, social values, and institutional power.