Vrouwenfiguur op een wolk

This print of a female figure on a cloud was etched by Samuel Bottschild in the Dutch Republic sometime in the later 17th century. We see a woman, elegantly draped and coiffed, rising on a bank of clouds in an oval frame. This type of allegorical image was very popular in the Netherlands at this time. Prints like this, and paintings too, were often commissioned by municipal authorities to signal their civic pride. A female figure could stand in for abstract concepts like Justice or Liberty. We see a similar visual language in use today in political cartoons and public monuments. Bottschild was working in a very competitive print market. To understand his work and the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age, art historians consult archives, print room collections, and period publications. By understanding this world, we can better understand the public role of art.