Vrijage 1740 - 1760

Jan Caspar Philips created this print, titled "Vrijage," meaning courtship, in the 18th century in the Netherlands. This was a time when the Dutch Republic was a major center for trade and culture, yet also a society marked by strict social hierarchies and expectations, particularly concerning love, marriage, and gender roles. The print depicts a well-dressed couple indoors, sharing wine; the man has his arm around the woman. In the lower left Cupid takes aim with his bow and arrow. The setting—the interior of a well-appointed home—suggests a scene of bourgeois intimacy. Philips invites us to reflect on the performance of courtship within the confines of domestic space and societal norms. What does it mean to be in love, who gets to love and how? By focusing on the rituals of courtship, Philips subtly comments on the emotional landscape of his time. The work encourages us to consider the ways love and relationships are shaped by social and economic forces.