Study of three women and child 1623

Editor: This is Jacob Jordaens's "Study of Three Women and Child," created in 1623 using oil paint. The subjects appear rather disheveled and earthy. How do you interpret this work, particularly considering the lives of women in the 17th century? Curator: Jordaens offers a glimpse into the domestic sphere, but through a lens that challenges idealized portrayals. Consider the prominent role of women as caregivers, often depicted through Madonnas and idealized mother figures. This "Study" disrupts that narrative, presenting women with a stark realism. Their exposed breasts speak to their maternal function, while their weary expressions perhaps hint at the burdens they carried within a patriarchal society. What feelings does the gaze of the woman holding the child elicit in you? Editor: A sort of worn determination. She seems strong despite… well, everything. Curator: Exactly. And it’s in those subtleties that we find Jordaens subtly acknowledging the strength and resilience inherent to the lived experiences of women during this era. We might explore this work in contrast to contemporary views on class and labour to uncover those intersections, to create a dialogic relationship between past and present struggles. How do you feel such pieces relate to feminist activism? Editor: I see what you mean. These women, who might have been overlooked, are given presence. Curator: And that presence becomes a point of departure. Art like this serves as a historical anchor, rooting contemporary discussions about equality and representation in concrete realities. The power of art resides in these layers of contextual meaning. Editor: This has totally changed my perspective. I’ll never look at Baroque paintings the same way again. Curator: That’s the best possible outcome!