Still Life with Silver-gilt Tazza 

Clara Peeters, a Flemish artist, painted this still life during the early 17th century, a period when the Dutch Republic was flourishing through global trade. Peeters, as one of the few known women artists of her time, challenges traditional gender roles through her artistic success. The painting presents a sumptuous display of food and precious objects, signifying wealth and abundance. However, the inclusion of a squirrel and cooked lobsters may allude to the ephemeral nature of earthly pleasures. Still lifes like this offered a space to showcase her technical skills, yet her choice to repeatedly include her signature subtly asserts her presence in a male-dominated art world. Peeters transforms the genre into a statement of identity, embedding her personal narrative within the broader context of Dutch Golden Age society. The emotional impact of this painting lies in its quiet declaration of a woman's ambition and skill amidst societal constraints.