Titelblad: Alcoues a la Romaine before 1724

This is an anonymous engraving, called Titelblad: Alcoues a la Romaine. The image presents a highly stylized and idealized view of Roman domesticity, likely produced during a period of renewed interest in classical antiquity. At first glance, the scene depicts a space of leisure and intimacy, filled with figures that evoke classical sculpture and design. The women here are reclining, and surrounded by cherubic figures, which speaks to idealized notions of femininity and fertility. Yet, the composition and the very artificiality of the scene also suggest the construction of particular narratives about history and identity. Consider how the artwork subtly promotes certain values, such as the emphasis on the domestic sphere as a site of feminine virtue, or the romanticization of Roman culture as a model for contemporary society. These elements prompt us to reflect on how art is enmeshed with power and ideology.