Allegorisch randwerk voor twee ovale portretten 1708 - 1780

Jacob Houbraken created this allegorical border for two oval portraits sometime in the 18th century. In the drawing, a woman sits with two children while another child is shown in the upper right corner. During the 18th century, the rise of Enlightenment ideals emphasized reason and individualism, influencing artistic representations. It was a patriarchal society, and the roles of women were largely confined to the domestic sphere. Here, the artist represents a mother as the central figure. She is caring and nurturing, embodying the era’s views on femininity and domesticity. The tender depiction of motherhood, while reflective of its time, also subtly navigates the complexities of women’s roles. The drawing, with its intimate domestic scene, reflects the personal and societal values of its era. It invites viewers to reflect on the interplay between personal identity and the broader cultural narratives that define it.