Habitus et cultus Matronarum Nobilu et Rusticarum (Clothing and Manners of Noblewomen and Countrywomen) 1619 - 1623
adriaenmatham
rijksmuseum
print, engraving
portrait
baroque
old engraving style
figuration
genre-painting
engraving
Adriaen Matham's "Habitus et cultus Matronarum Nobilu et Rusticarum" from 1619-1623 is a detailed etching depicting a woman in rural garb, holding a basket and walking barefoot. The scene is set against a backdrop of a simple cottage and a fence, with birds in flight above. This artwork is a part of a series by Matham exploring the diverse attire and mannerisms of women in the Netherlands, providing a glimpse into 17th-century Dutch society. The detail and realism of the etching make it a valuable historical document, as well as an artistic achievement.
Comments
This series highlights the contrast between the clothing of Dutch noblewomen and that of women from the provinces. The regional clothing evolves slowly over time, while the fashionable attire of the elite is subject to foreign influences. For example, the woman in plate 1 wears a Spanish, conical farthingale beneath her skirt, while the woman in plate 2 wears the bellshaped version from France.
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