Hollandse ochtend 1733 - 1797

Pierre François Basan made this print, Hollandse Ochtend, sometime in the 18th century. We see a well-to-do woman dressing, a maid in the background, and a dog begging in the foreground. Made in France, it looks to Dutch painting for its inspiration. The Dutch Republic was a dominant economic power in the 17th century, famous for its art market, and its paintings of everyday life. This print participates in a French fascination with Dutch art and culture. However, this is no simple copy. This is a French artist imagining Dutch life. Note the licentious verses beneath the image, which play on the woman's supposed control over both her dog and her husband. What are we to make of this combination of national stereotypes? The image is part of a much wider history of cultural exchange, of the way nations use images to define themselves and others. Studying prints like these, alongside historical literature, gives us a glimpse into the complex relationship between France and the Dutch Republic.