De dwerg Melchertje van Minneproefslot, 1720 1718 - 1720

Joost van Sassen created this print, "De dwerg Melchertje van Minneproefslot," in 1720, using etching techniques. The print depicts a milkmaid. Reflecting the social dynamics of 18th-century Dutch society, the figure's exaggerated features hint at the complex relationship between class and representation. Consider how the milkmaid, a common figure in genre art, becomes a focal point for exploring the lives and labor of women in the working class. Are we invited to empathize or to judge? With satire, van Sassen subverts conventional portrayals, inviting us to question prevailing notions of beauty and social standing. This resonates with contemporary discussions about body image and the power dynamics inherent in representation.