Vrouw met mand op haar hoofd, op de rug gezien 1620 - 1664

Editor: We're looking at "Woman with basket on her head, seen from the back," an etching by Stefano della Bella, dating from around the mid-17th century, at the Rijksmuseum. I find her silhouette quite striking, almost defiant in its simplicity. What do you see in this piece beyond the basic representation? Curator: I see a complex statement about labor and representation. Consider the social context: this image emerges during a period of significant social stratification. This woman, burdened with a basket, embodies the labor often rendered invisible. Who do you think sees this print, and what does it mean for them? Editor: Perhaps wealthy collectors? The detailed lines suggest a certain appreciation for craft. But it does seem to objectify this woman… Curator: Exactly. Is she a person, or an emblem? Bella is documenting a type, yes, but the very act of documenting, of etching her image, participates in a broader discourse. What’s missing here? We don’t see her face, her agency. She's presented from the back, anonymous and burdened, which raises crucial questions. Who controls her narrative, her representation, and what power dynamics are at play? Editor: So, this seemingly simple depiction of a woman carrying a basket actually opens up larger questions about class, visibility, and power… I hadn’t considered all those layers. Curator: Precisely! Art offers a glimpse into these societal power structures and this piece definitely encapsulates the different tensions happening at the time it was created. What a fascinating image, once you start to question it.