Uitnodiging voor de begfafenis van Judith Bisschop before 1654

This is an invitation to the funeral of Judith Bisschop, printed anonymously in the Netherlands in 1651. Consider this modest piece of print as an insight into the social rituals of the Dutch Golden Age. The text announces the passing of Judith Bisschop, widow of Romeyn de Hooghe, and mother of four children. The mention of ‘de Beurs,’ or the stock exchange, indicates a connection to Amsterdam's burgeoning merchant class. The use of formal language and the direct address suggest a society that valued decorum, but the simplicity of the invitation suggests the values of the Protestant reformation. To understand this artifact more fully, one could explore Amsterdam's social registers, genealogical records, and church archives. The cultural historian pieces together the lives behind the invitation, to gain insight into a society that was experiencing rapid transformation. The meaning of art, even in such ephemera, is always contingent on its social and institutional context.