Zittende gitaar spelende vrouw in een landschap 1620 - 1664

This etching shows a woman playing a guitar in a landscape, and was made by an anonymous artist. In the Dutch Golden Age, music was deeply embedded in social life. The popularity of musical imagery during this period also reveals the increasing importance of leisure and the rise of a consumer culture. This simple domestic scene presents a woman playing a guitar, the instrument itself speaking to her social standing and wealth. Music education for women from wealthy backgrounds was popular in the Netherlands. While the artist’s identity remains unknown, the print itself speaks volumes about the cultural values of the time. Prints like these were sold in bookshops or from market stalls, appealing to a broad spectrum of the Dutch population. To truly understand the artwork, one would research Dutch Golden Age society, the history of music education, and the economic conditions that supported the production and consumption of art. This etching isn’t just an image; it’s a window into a world of social norms and cultural values.