Noord-Hollandse dame 1823 - 1829

Pieter van der Meulen created this print, Noord-Hollandse dame, likely at the end of the 18th century. The print offers a glimpse into the private world of a woman in the province of Noord-Holland. During this period, the Dutch Republic was undergoing significant social and political upheaval, influenced by Enlightenment ideals and growing calls for democratic reform. Within this context, images of women often served to reinforce or challenge prevailing gender norms. Here we see the sitter in her domestic space reading. The act of reading, especially for women, was both an embrace of intellectual life and a signifier of class and leisure. Consider her clothing, which speaks to the period’s fashion trends, but also symbolizes status. How does she perform the role of a domestic intellectual? Is she a figure of quiet contemplation, or does she represent a subtle assertion of female intellect and autonomy within the confines of her social sphere? This print invites us to consider the complexities of gender, class, and identity in the late 18th century.