Dansende vrouw met tamboerijn, omringd door spelende naakte jongetjes 1696 - 1721

Jan Baptist Berterham made this print of a dancing woman with a tambourine surrounded by playing nude boys. The image presents a world of classical play, with a theatrical atmosphere, but it also reflects some contemporary social realities in the Netherlands. The visual codes are striking. The dancing woman may be an allegory for worldly pleasure. We see her elevated above children playing a game. It is a reminder of the 17th-century Dutch Republic's complex relationship with pleasure, where the pursuit of it had to be balanced with moral considerations. The presence of the building in the background tells us that this scene could take place in an urban environment in the Netherlands at the time. Understanding an artwork like this requires attention to its historical context, including the role of art institutions, and the public role of art, so that we may discern its significance within the culture that produced it.