Figures à la mode, no. 4: Dame met capuchon, een kind aan de hand. 1660 - 1685

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print, "Figures à la mode, no. 4" sometime between 1660 and 1700 using etching. Here, De Hooghe captures the social and cultural values of the Dutch Golden Age. The print presents a well-dressed woman with a child, seemingly engaged in a leisurely activity. The presence of a carriage and a well-kept building in the background points towards wealth and status, revealing the economic prosperity of the Dutch Republic at the time. The attire of the figures reflect the fashion trends among the upper class. This reveals the importance of social status and appearance. The print offers a window into the cultural landscape of the Dutch Golden Age, but its meaning has changed over time. As historians, we can investigate archives of fashion and conduct research into the histories of Dutch families and their lifestyles. These efforts contextualize the role of art, helping us recognize that its meaning is always influenced by social and institutional frameworks.