Oude vrouw die munten telt 1657 - 1707

Hendrik Bary created this print of an old woman counting coins sometime between 1640 and 1707. During the Dutch Golden Age, the representation of elderly women was often intertwined with societal attitudes towards aging, gender, and economic status. Here, the woman's concentration on her task speaks to the economic realities faced by many women during that time, particularly as they aged and potentially lost social support. Her wrinkled face, illuminated by candlelight, tells a story of resilience but also of the vulnerabilities of old age. Bary’s depiction invites us to consider the complex intersections of age, gender, and economic circumstances in the 17th-century Netherlands. It's a stark reminder of the everyday lives and struggles of those often overlooked in historical narratives.