Hoofd van een oude vrouw met muts 1625 - 1674

Jan Lievens created this etching, titled "Head of an Old Woman with a Cap," sometime during the 17th century. Lievens, a contemporary of Rembrandt, lived in a society marked by stark social hierarchies where age, gender, and class dictated one's position and value. In this small, yet potent work, Lievens directs our attention to an aging woman, likely of the working class, her face etched with the marks of time and hardship. Her modest attire speaks volumes about her social standing, contrasting sharply with the opulent portraits of the wealthy that dominated the art world of the Dutch Golden Age. Lievens offers an alternative narrative. He asks us to consider the lives and experiences of those often overlooked by history. There is a quiet dignity in her gaze, a sense of resilience etched into her features, inviting empathy and recognition of a shared humanity.