Waard en waardin Possibly 1772 - 1833

This is Mathias de Sallieth’s etching, "Waard en waardin." It is a window into the social dynamics of 18th-century Dutch society. Here, a man and a woman are captured sharing a glass, seemingly in a moment of revelry. The context of the print trade meant that Sallieth's work would have circulated widely, engaging with a broad audience. The image presents a seemingly simple scene, yet, the implications of gender and class are subtly at play. Consider the roles: The "waard," or host, usually a man, extends hospitality, while the "waardin," or hostess, often a woman, partakes. How might this interaction reflect or subvert the era's social norms? There's an emotionality embedded here. Is it camaraderie, flirtation, or something more complex? The body language and the shared glass hint at intimate connections and raise questions about the performance of social roles. These are not just figures in a scene; they are embodiments of human relationships, caught in the act of negotiating social expectations.