Signed and Dated Linen Sampler with Silk Embroidery 1701

Gooitie Cornelis stitched this linen sampler with silk embroidery, but we don’t know exactly when. The year 1701 is embroidered onto it, but so is the phrase ‘a young daughter’. Samplers such as these were frequently made in the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries, often by girls as a display of their needlework skills and literacy. These skills were not just about the individual accomplishment of the maker; but also the way that it positioned them within a social hierarchy. The alphabet, numerals, and various decorative motifs speak to cultural values and aesthetic sensibilities of the time. The act of stitching, often within a domestic setting or girls' school, reinforced social norms and gender roles. But the sampler is more than just an exercise. By signing her name Gooitie Cornelis asserts her individual identity within this framework. Further research into Dutch social history, particularly education and women's roles, could shed more light on the cultural significance of such samplers. Understanding their place within the domestic sphere and educational institutions helps us appreciate their complex meaning.