Zittende naakte vrouw met spiegel 1660

Johannes Popels created this etching of a seated nude woman with a mirror in the 17th century. The Dutch Golden Age saw an increase in the production of art for the growing merchant class. Popels, like many artists of his time, drew upon classical and biblical themes. Here, a woman is caught in a private moment of reflection, seemingly unaware of the viewer's gaze. The cool tones and intimate setting offer a sense of voyeurism. The mirror, an age-old symbol of vanity and self-awareness, prompts contemplation of identity and representation. During the Dutch Golden Age, the female nude was a contested subject, often used to convey moral messages or to titillate. The woman in the etching challenges traditional representations by presenting a figure who seems both vulnerable and self-possessed. It asks us to consider the complex interplay between observer and observed, and the ways in which we construct our own identities through reflection.