Vroedvrouw en juffrouw Katelijn 1641

Crispijn van de Passe II made this engraving, "Vroedvrouw en juffrouw Katelijn", sometime in the 17th century. It depicts a midwife with a newborn, and a young woman in bed. The print uses visual codes and cultural references to comment on social structures of its time. Made in the Netherlands, this artwork reflects the religious and moral beliefs prevalent in Dutch society during that period. The contrast between the two women may critique societal attitudes toward women, motherhood, and morality. It hints at the politics of imagery, particularly around gender roles and moral expectations. The artwork engages with institutions of art by embedding moral and social commentary. It challenges us to consider the social conditions shaping artistic production. By looking at sources like period documents, religious texts, and social commentaries, we can better understand the interplay between art and society in the 17th-century Netherlands.