Two Gossips 1610 - 1685

Adriaen van Ostade created this print, "Two Gossips," sometime in the 17th century, capturing a moment of everyday life in the Dutch Republic. During this period, the Dutch Golden Age flourished with increased trade and urbanization, leading to new social dynamics. Ostade, as a genre painter, often depicted peasant life, and here, he presents two women engrossed in conversation. The image offers a glimpse into the roles and interactions of women within these communities. The gossip, a familiar social dynamic, might speak to the limited power and influence women had. Sharing stories, however trivial, might have been a way to create intimacy and exert social influence within their communities. The artist does not judge the scene, instead, he invites us to contemplate the everyday lives of ordinary people. This print reveals the subtle ways in which women navigated their social landscape, finding power in the exchange of information and stories.