Femme Suisse allant par la Ville de Baselle 1662

This is an anonymous print of a Swiss woman walking through Basel. The artwork is located at the Rijksmuseum. It offers a fascinating insight into the social and cultural life of Basel. The woman is depicted in traditional Swiss attire, which serves as a visual code representing her cultural identity and perhaps her social standing. The print was likely made for a tourist audience, keen to understand the customs and costumes of the region. We can use historical texts, costume books, and travelogues from the period to understand the significance of each element of her dress. Prints like these played a role in constructing and disseminating ideas about national identity and cultural difference. They invite us to think about how images shape our understanding of the world.