Embleem met allegorie op vroomheid 1681 - 1737

This emblem with an allegory of piety was created by François van Bleyswijck, a Dutch artist working in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During this period, the Dutch Republic experienced significant social and political shifts, moving from the Golden Age to a time of economic decline and increased social stratification. The print presents an idealized vision of female virtue, set against the backdrop of everyday life. The central female figure embodies piety, while the surrounding scenes evoke themes of temptation and redemption. It reflects the era’s complex relationship with women, who were both celebrated for their domestic roles and subjected to strict moral expectations. The emblem format was popular at the time for conveying moral lessons. The inscription beneath the image speaks of piety being ‘slandered and disgraced,’ reflecting social tensions around religious and moral values. This artwork encourages us to reflect on the cultural values and gender dynamics of the Dutch Republic, while also sparking personal reflections on the meaning of virtue and devotion in our own lives.