Portretten van de courtisanes Balbiereis Ket van Frankfurt en Anna Rosina van Marburg 1635

Crispijn van de Passe II created these engravings of Balbiereis Ket and Anna Rosina around the 17th century. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how the lives of courtesans were both public and private during this period. These portraits invite us to consider the socio-economic realities that shaped these women's lives, and how their identities were perceived and portrayed. Positioned outside the traditional structures of family and marriage, courtesans navigated a complex world where their agency was both constrained and enabled by their economic circumstances. Notice the contrasting symbols of status: Balbiereis with her delicate lace collar, and Anna Rosina with a soldier's hat. As unconventional figures they blurred the lines of class and gender expectations, offering a counter-narrative to the dominant representations of women at the time. These portraits serve as a reminder of the diverse roles women have played throughout history and prompt questions about power, representation, and the negotiation of identity in a patriarchal society.