Straatventer met flesjes reukwater 1713

Curator: This etching by Pieter van den Berge, created in 1713, is titled "Straatventer met flesjes reukwater" – or, “Street Vendor with Bottles of Scented Water." What are your first thoughts? Editor: It’s bustling. Despite the limited tones, the scene feels lively and comical. All eyes seem drawn to the vendor and his wares. There's almost a whiff of theatricality in the air. Curator: The print likely acted as an advertisement for a theatrical play; note the poster in the background reading "De Onberaaden Minnaar." These street vendors hawking scented waters were fixtures of the 18th-century cityscape, weren't they? Editor: Absolutely. Beyond personal hygiene, scents played an essential symbolic role. Fragrances masked unpleasant city smells, but they also spoke volumes about one’s social standing and refinement. The bottles themselves must have carried significance, their shapes hinting at exotic origins. Curator: I'm intrigued by the figure in the window—seemingly observing the transaction with great interest. Do you see this as a reflection of broader societal trends, perhaps an emerging consumer culture focused on vanity? Editor: The woman in the window is such a voyeur. The theatrical poster references an "imprudent lover," perhaps warning viewers against excessive adornment or romantic pursuits fuelled by ephemeral pleasures. Scent as seduction... Curator: Scent as seduction. Yes. Consider the detail—the delicate hand gestures of the dandy testing a bottle, the ornate costumes. This small print really encapsulates a pivotal moment where personal identity was shaped not just by social status, but by actively performing it. Editor: It's quite amazing how this snapshot of a vendor pushing perfumes reveals so much about the evolving cultural values of the period. It seems that, beyond cleanliness, a sort of status could be acquired simply by possessing something so frivolous. Curator: An aromatic emblem of social distinction indeed! It speaks volumes. Editor: Quite a potent visual fragrance if you ask me!