Vrouw met emmer (de Samaritaanse vrouw?) c. 1679 - 1709

This is an engraving of a woman with a bucket, probably made to be included in a book of examples for artists. The print comes from a time when access to art education was structured around gender. The figure is identified as the Samaritan woman, a biblical character who encountered Jesus at a well. In the story, the woman’s gender and ethnic identity as a Samaritan put her at the margins of society. The image asks us to consider the construction of this identity through the depiction of her clothing, her pose, and the bucket she carries. The original artist, Abraham Bloemaert, and the publisher, Carel Allard, would have assumed a mostly male viewership of artists using it as a source. These images helped reinforce a patriarchal society, while teaching an appreciation for art. How does seeing this print through a contemporary lens influence your understanding of its original intent and impact? How does the act of looking change when we're aware of the historical and social context surrounding it?