Portret van een vijftigjarige vrouw 1650

Gerrit Lundens created this small portrait of a fifty-year-old woman in oil on copper sometime in the mid-17th century. The woman's modest attire and the painting's small scale offer a glimpse into the values of Dutch society during the Golden Age. In the Dutch Republic, the rising merchant class fueled a demand for smaller, more intimate artworks suitable for private homes. The woman’s simple clothing, including her white cap and modest collar, reflects the cultural emphasis on restraint. This aesthetic aligns with the values of the Dutch Reformed Church, which influenced social norms and discouraged ostentatious displays of wealth. The historical context of the Dutch Republic—its economic prosperity, religious environment, and the rise of a powerful middle class—shaped the function and reception of this work. As historians, we can delve deeper into this period by studying period documents such as household inventories, religious pamphlets, and market records, to understand this painting's place within the fabric of its time.