Amor kroont de personificatie van de Schilderkunst 1655 - 1700

Jan van Somer created this print, titled "Amor Crowns the Personification of Painting," using etching. Prints like this one circulated widely, and were often reproduced. Looking at this image today, it's hard to miss the classical symbolism and the allegorical representations that were so popular at the time. We see Amor, often associated with love and desire, crowning the personification of painting. Consider how this moment idealizes art; it's not just a skill but an exalted endeavor, worthy of divine recognition. However, we can also reflect on the role of women in the arts at the time. While women artists existed, they were often excluded from formal training. To what extent does this image, with its female personification of painting, challenge or reinforce societal expectations and limitations placed on women in the arts? The print provides a window into the cultural values of the time and prompts us to reflect on the complex relationship between art, gender, and societal expectations.