Dansend stel, de vrouw met de handen in haar zij c. 1537 - 1555

Cornelis Bos created this small engraving, “Dancing Couple, the Woman with Hands on her Hips”, around 1540-1550 in the Netherlands. Bos, an engraver, printmaker, and art dealer, played a key role in disseminating the Italian Renaissance style throughout Northern Europe. The print depicts a stylishly dressed couple stepping lively across an open landscape. Though the man’s gaze is fixed on his partner, she looks out towards us, her hands firmly planted on her hips. This stance, along with her raised brow, suggests a confidence and agency not typically afforded to women at the time. The artist seems to offer a subtle commentary on gender roles. Bos’s choice to focus on secular subjects and the everyday lives of ordinary people reflects the changing social values of the Renaissance. Here, the emphasis on dance and companionship invites us to consider the emotional and social lives of people in the 16th century. How does this image of a couple in motion speak to our contemporary understanding of relationships and personal expression?