Smaak 1650 - 1665

Richard Gaywood created this engraving, "Smaak," sometime between 1630 and 1680. During this time, the Dutch Golden Age saw the rise of genre scenes, often reflecting the values and social structures of the era. Here, we see a scene of tasting or enjoyment. However, it's crucial to consider who is depicted and how. Two well-dressed women sit, seemingly indulging in delicacies, while two men in hats enter the space. A child plays on the floor, and a serving woman stands at the table. The image subtly hints at class divisions and gendered roles. The women, confined to the domestic sphere, are passive recipients of pleasure, while the men, active and adorned, seem to possess agency. The presence of enslaved people and the exploitation of resources from colonized lands underpinned much of the wealth that enabled such scenes of leisure. This work, while seemingly innocuous, reflects a complex web of social, economic, and racial power dynamics, inviting us to consider the unseen histories that shaped the world it depicts.