Vogelaar en vrouw 1590 - 1632

Curator: So, here we have "Vogelaar en vrouw," or "Fowler and Wife," a 17th-century engraving by Pieter de Jode I. The scene depicts a couple sitting on a small hill, but what catches your eye? Editor: Well, the body language strikes me as odd, and I am drawn to the tension between them. What can we uncover beyond this initial reading? Curator: I find it productive to think about genre painting, and the concept of ‘everyday life’ as a deliberate artistic construction, far from innocent or neutral. Consider how gender operates within these seemingly candid scenes. What narratives are being reinforced or subtly challenged here? Editor: You’re pointing me to the social implications, then? It does seem the woman is less a subject and more an accessory within the scene… Curator: Precisely. This image also speaks volumes about early forms of capitalistic society. How does this seemingly idyllic landscape normalize or mask labour relationships, and even early forms of environmental exploitation? Editor: I hadn't thought about the environmental aspect, it does prompt questions about the context of the 'vogelaar', this hunter, within the ecosystem he's acting upon. Curator: Indeed. The act of hunting and trapping becomes a reflection of power dynamics, not only over nature, but within society. How do we read these 'everyday' images as coded messages that uphold certain social and gendered expectations? Editor: Thinking about this piece, especially from a feminist and post-colonial point of view, shows me that images like these have a far broader relevance. Thank you, it helped a lot. Curator: Remember, art history isn't just about dates and styles. It's a crucial lens through which we can analyze the development and propagation of social structures.