Glazen vaas met bloemen c. 17th century

Pieter Schenk created this image of a 'Glazen vaas met bloemen' using etching techniques, sometime between 1670 and 1711. During the Dutch Golden Age, still life paintings weren’t mere decorative items, they reflected complex cultural values about gender, social class, and the natural world. Flower paintings were especially popular, and purchasing the artworks was a status symbol of wealth. The Dutch obsession with flowers intersected with colonialism, as rare flowers from around the world were traded and collected, demonstrating economic and global power. The very act of arranging flowers, like these roses, peonies and morning glory, was gendered, and considered to be a feminine skill. Schenk’s etching would have made images of floral displays more widely available, disrupting the traditional gender and class associations, while reflecting the cultural values. The artwork is a poignant reminder of a time when art and society were deeply entwined, and personal expression was shaped by social forces.