Portret van Regina Schwind 1610 - 1655

This is Sebastian Furck’s portrait of Regina Schwind, made sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Furck was a German artist working in the tradition of printmaking. Portraits like this one offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of women during this period. Regina’s attire – the elaborate lace collar, the ornamented dress, and jeweled rings – speaks volumes about her social standing. Her gaze is direct, yet there’s a sense of restraint, a characteristic perhaps imposed by the conventions of portraiture at the time, or perhaps a conscious effort to project a certain image. In the context of the 17th century, such portraits were often commissioned by the upper middle class as assertions of status and respectability. Regina’s is no different. But look closer, and you might begin to imagine the everyday realities of her life.