Elegante dame bij hagedis 1619 - 1652

This is a small etching, titled 'Elegante dame bij hagedis,' or, 'Elegant Lady with Lizard' created by an anonymous artist. Who was she, this elegant woman depicted from behind, strolling in what appears to be a Dutch landscape? Her identity remains a mystery, but her attire speaks volumes about the rigid social hierarchies of the time. She is adorned with a lavish hat, a fur-trimmed ruff, and voluminous draped skirt, proclaiming her status and wealth. The presence of a lizard, an unusual element, is a subversive move on the artist’s part, subtly mocking the woman’s finery. In effect, the artist is challenging the norms of representation and inviting us to question the values of a society fixated on appearances. What did it feel like for the anonymous artist to depict this woman, and what can it tell us about the cultural and social contexts of the time?