Waardin uit Bacharach aan de Rijn en burgermeisje uit Frankfurt 1728

Editor: We're looking at "Waardin uit Bacharach aan de Rijn en burgermeisje uit Frankfurt," created in 1728 by Bernard Picart. It’s a print – an etching, to be exact – currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. The print shows two women. The figure on the left seems so much more relaxed. What’s your take on this comparison? Curator: Oh, absolutely! Immediately, I’m struck by how Picart uses clothing and gesture to convey status and regional identity. Don’t you think the woman from Bacharach, with her inviting glass and more…earthy attire, practically radiates hospitality? It’s almost as if Picart is inviting us to taste the Rhineland's finest vintage. And the Frankfurter lady—so prim and proper. What a contrast in attitude and pose! One seems relaxed; the other reserved. Do you feel that tension too? Editor: Definitely. And, beyond just fashion, it’s a social commentary, right? Showing the differences between regions or social classes? Curator: Precisely! And it’s fascinating how much information Picart packs into seemingly simple depictions. Beyond societal ranks, I think there’s commentary on women’s roles, especially in 18th-century society. Can't you almost hear the Bacharach woman’s hearty laugh versus imagining the other demurely taking tea? Perhaps I am projecting a bit there! Editor: Not at all! That's the beauty of art, I suppose. You've really shed light on this seemingly straightforward print, making me appreciate the complexities woven into it. Curator: Exactly, these little glimpses of lives centuries ago! Who knows what stories they really held! Thank you for prompting this little imaginative dance with history.