Zittend meisje 1656

Cornelis Saftleven sketched this drawing of a seated girl with black chalk on grey paper in the Netherlands, sometime in the mid-17th century. Saftleven was working during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great economic and cultural flourishing, especially in art. As the new merchant class grew in power, they became important patrons. Genres like portraiture, landscapes, and scenes of everyday life became extremely popular. Although seemingly informal, Saftleven has followed certain conventions: the sitter's social status is emphasized, and her gaze is directed toward us, the viewer. To understand this work better, we could research the fashion of the time, and the common social roles of women and girls in Dutch society. By understanding the context in which Saftleven was working, we can see how this image operates within the power structures of its time.