Portrait of a Sixty-year-old Woman, from Recueil d'estampes d'après les plus célèbres tableaux de la Galerie Royale de Dresde c. 1757

Pieter Tanjé made this print of a sixty-year-old woman, sometime between 1706 and 1761. It reproduces a painting by Peter Paul Rubens found in the Royal Gallery of Dresden. Considered through a social lens, this print offers insight into the cultural institutions and artistic practices of 18th-century Europe. The Royal Gallery in Dresden, like many such collections, served as both a repository of artistic achievement and a symbol of dynastic power. Tanjé’s print, part of a larger series documenting the gallery's holdings, reflects the growing interest in making art accessible to a broader audience. Prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and taste, helping to shape artistic standards and promote the reputations of both artists and patrons. Further research into the history of the Dresden gallery and the print market of the time might reveal the social networks and economic forces that shaped the production and consumption of art in this period.