Femme d'Amstredame allant par la Ville 1662

This is an anonymous print titled, “Femme d’Amstredame allant par la Ville,” which translates to “Woman of Amsterdam going through the City.” This image provides a glimpse into the identity and role of women in 17th-century Amsterdam, a time and place of burgeoning global trade and shifting social structures. The woman's clothing, with its structured bodice, large ruff, and long skirt, speaks to the sartorial codes of the time, and the cultural emphasis on modesty and decorum for women. Her purse, adorned with what seems to be the coat of arms of Amsterdam, perhaps suggests an alignment with the city's commercial prosperity. Is this a portrait of an individual, or an archetypal image of a respectable urban woman? The woman walks through a city that was becoming a hub of intellectual and artistic life, yet her representation here seems to maintain traditional roles, rather than breaking new ground. In this way, the print reflects the complex negotiation between tradition and modernity that shaped women's lives in Amsterdam.