Tobit en Anna met het geitje 1601 - 1652

Curator: This is a fascinating 17th-century engraving, "Tobit and Anna with the Goat," created anonymously between 1601 and 1652. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It has a striking, somewhat tense feel. It feels like an illustration from a book, but presented as an independent work of art. It depicts two figures—seemingly mid-argument. What does this engraving tell us about its time? Curator: It offers a lens into 17th-century social and domestic dynamics. The story of Tobit and Anna, derived from the apocryphal Book of Tobit, was often depicted, serving as a didactic tool. The image showcases not just religious narrative, but also the public performance of marital roles. The text inscribed around the image also provides additional context. Do you think it's successful as propaganda? Editor: That’s interesting… "propaganda"? I guess that’s where the “politics of imagery” comes in. I suppose that the family unit itself was under pressure at that time, especially during and after the Reformation. It certainly reads to me as more narrative illustration. Curator: Exactly! Its effectiveness as propaganda hinges on how deeply it resonated with audiences, subtly reinforcing societal norms and gender expectations of the time. It speaks to the negotiation of domestic space as a politicized area. Can you infer what values about women the anonymous artist might be emphasizing here? Editor: It appears like obedience of a good wife versus Tobit being a just leader for his household? Thinking about the museum's role, pieces like this probably influenced contemporary society, perhaps inadvertently, reflecting existing norms back at it. Thank you for your perspective! Curator: It's a two way mirror and its good that you see that. Looking at art with both lenses really teaches us so much more. Thanks!