Portret van een vroedvrouw 1614 - 1652

Editor: So, this is "Portret van een vroedvrouw," or "Portrait of a Midwife," an engraving by Crispijn van den Queborn, made sometime between 1614 and 1652. There’s a kind of directness in her gaze. It's fascinating. What stands out to you? Curator: You know, her directness is what grabs me too. There's no coquetry, no pretense. It's a working woman portrayed with incredible, unflinching honesty. Look at the lines etching her face. Van den Queborn captures a real person, not some ideal. And her clothing? Utilitarian, proper, hinting at her position. She *is* a somebody, someone to trust in vulnerable moments. Editor: A portrait drawing indeed. The text underneath says she's 45 and praises her wisdom. Do you think it elevates her or boxes her into that 'wise woman' stereotype? Curator: It's a tightrope walk, isn’t it? Praise can be a gilded cage. On one hand, celebrating her skill and knowledge acknowledges her importance. But labeling her 'wise' might also subtly diminish her agency by essentializing her womanhood. Was she seen primarily as a professional, or just as a 'wise woman'? A crucial distinction, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. The personal sketchbook quality adds to that intimate feeling, as if glimpsing someone’s private record. It makes me wonder about the artist’s intention – to memorialize or simply document? Curator: A beautiful question! It hints at something almost subversive. Remember, at this time, to simply record the face of a common woman - outside of a commission from family - was relatively rare. He’s given dignity to an ordinary woman, not for her family lineage but for her service, for her skill. The "personal sketchbook" style… well, that invites us, centuries later, into that very intimate process. Marvelous. Editor: It changes my perspective quite a lot. Thanks for clarifying those historical angles! Curator: It’s all about those changing perspectives, isn't it? A fresh look reveals a lot!