Vrouw met een mand met druiven bij een man in een herfstlandschap 1625 - 1635

This print, whose artist is unknown, was made in the Netherlands and is likely from the 17th or 18th century. The print is from a book entitled "Christelick Huys-VVyf" and features an allegorical image of a woman with grapes set against a landscape of autumn. The image presents a complex view of nature, labor, and domesticity. We see a contrast between the natural abundance of the landscape, and the labor required to cultivate it. The imagery evokes the social ideals of the time, with the woman representing the dutiful mother, and the male figure signifying the laboring husband. Such images were part of a broader cultural effort to define and regulate gender roles. The Dutch Republic at this time was undergoing significant economic and social changes and the institution of the family was seen as essential to the social order. By examining printed matter such as this, we can reveal the ways in which social norms are both reinforced and contested through visual culture. These visual and textual codes are ripe for investigation by art historians.