Dame op schommel c. 1680

This engraving by Barent Velthuysen shows a lady on a swing pushed by two others, all adorned with elaborate hairstyles and gowns. The swing itself, hanging from the trees, is festooned with ribbons. Ribbons have long served as emblems of love, attachment, and societal bonds. Note how, in earlier Renaissance paintings, ribbons often bound laurel wreaths, symbolizing triumph and eternal glory. Here, the ribbons adorning the swing suggest a lighter, perhaps more playful connection to themes of love and festivity. But observe how the carefree image is also steeped in a feeling of ephemerality. This mirrors the vanitas motifs seen in Dutch Golden Age painting, reminding us of the fleeting nature of beauty and joy. The swing's motion becomes a metaphor for life's brief passage. This image, like a recurring dream, resurfaces through the ages, its symbols adapting, yet carrying the weight of collective memory.