Edelman met stok in een landschap 1620 - 1664

This print, titled "Edelman met stok in een landschap" which translates to "Nobleman with a stick in a landscape", was made by an anonymous artist. Looking at the figure, the cut of his clothes, and the landscape setting, we can suggest that this image was likely made in the Netherlands, sometime during the 17th century. What I find striking about this image is that the nobleman is holding a stick rather than a sword, a typical signifier of status at the time. Also of note is the artist is unknown; why is that? The production of art in the 17th century Netherlands was being transformed by new social forces. For example, the rise of a merchant class meant that art was being produced for a wider audience, and by a greater number of artists, than ever before. To better understand this print, we might consult period costume books, visit local historical archives, and learn more about the history of the Rijksmuseum, where it is housed today. This might give us a better understanding of the social and institutional context in which it was produced.