Oude vrouw ontluist een meisje 1647 - 1674

Jan van Ossenbeeck created this etching, titled *Old woman delousing a girl*, in the mid-17th century. The print offers a glimpse into the everyday life of a family, likely from the lower classes, during the Dutch Golden Age. At its center, an older woman meticulously searches through the hair of a young girl, while in the background, two figures are near a barrel, with a dog resting in the foreground. Delousing, a common practice in times of poor sanitation, becomes an intimate moment, highlighting the ever-present realities of poverty and the vulnerability of women and children. The scene might be interpreted through the lens of care, while also noting class distinctions and the lack of access to proper hygiene. In a society where cleanliness was increasingly associated with morality and social status, the artwork quietly reflects the societal issues of health, poverty, and class, inviting us to consider the emotional and personal dimensions of daily existence for the individuals depicted.