Drinkende dame 1658 - 1677

Wallerant Vaillant created this mezzotint, "Drinkende Dame," sometime in the mid-17th century. The image shows an affluent woman drinking, attended by two figures. Vaillant was one of the first to master the mezzotint technique, which allows for rich tonal variations. This print demonstrates the fashion for genre scenes of the Dutch Golden Age: intimate glimpses into domestic life, but it’s important to remember that these images were carefully staged and catered to a specific, wealthy audience. Dutch art in this period wasn't just about pretty pictures. It reflected a society grappling with newfound prosperity, social hierarchies, and changing gender roles. Prints like this one circulated widely, shaping perceptions and reinforcing social norms. To understand this image fully, we need to look at the economic conditions, class structures, and artistic conventions of the time. Research into period clothing, social etiquette, and the artist's biography could reveal more of the print's social context.