Twee hemelbedden c. 1583

Pieter van der Borcht I created this print titled 'Two Four-Poster Beds' using engraving, likely in the Netherlands around the late 16th century. At the time, the display of wealth was a means of communicating social standing. These beds, dripping with classical motifs, represent the peak of luxury. Note the carved columns, elaborate headboards, and sculpted figures on the lower bed. They evoke the grandeur of ancient civilizations, aligning the owner with that prestige. These beds were status symbols, proclaiming the owner’s wealth and sophisticated taste. These designs likely circulated through pattern books, influencing furniture makers and their wealthy clientele. Such publications were vital in disseminating new styles and solidifying tastes across regions. By studying these images alongside inventories, wills, and other documents, we can understand the social lives of objects and the values they represented. The historian’s work illuminates how art is embedded in the social and institutional contexts of its time.