Studie af en liggende kvinde, set fra ryggen 1608 - 1651

Jacob Backer made this black and white chalk drawing of a reclining woman in the Netherlands sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Backer seems interested in the textures of the cloth and skin, and the light as it drapes across the woman's back. He also plays with the male gaze, positioning the viewer behind the woman, emphasizing the curve of her back and the nape of her neck. Dutch art of this period was deeply influenced by the wealth of the merchant class as well as the Protestant Reformation, which had a profound impact on religious imagery and patronage. This drawing is more secular, but it still makes sense within the context of the Dutch Golden Age. To gain a deeper understanding of this drawing, research into the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age and the patronage systems that supported artists is essential. The meaning of art always depends on its social and institutional context.