CHILDHOOD TO OLD AGE WOMEN IN 17TH-CENTURY NETHERLANDS Adulthood This unknown sitter in her twenties embodies the affluent, upper-class woman of marriageable age. She is fashionably dressed, dignified and reserved in pose and facial expression. The small dog she holds is not just a status symbol. It was commonly believed that the dog’s faithfulness to its mistress signified the female sitter’s loyalty to her husband. Although women in the Netherlands had more freedom than their European counterparts, they were still expected to be submissive to their spouses. Childhood Could this young girl of four already be engaged? Her ring, the little statue (symbol of fertility), the carnations, the fan and the peacock (symbol of Juno, goddess of child- birth) all refer to love and marriage. Her expensive silk-and-lace attire and prominent jewellery are signs of wealth. Only upper-class families would arrange marriages at such a young age. Education was deemed less important for girls than boys. But rich young girls went to school until the age of ten to learn reading, writing, religion, music, dance, sewing and French. They were prohibited from attending university, so instead they would be sent to Paris to learn about fashion- able French culture first-hand. Girls from poor families started to work full-time jobs at an early age.
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CHILDHOOD TO OLD AGEWOMEN IN 17TH-CENTURY NETHERLANDS
Adulthood
This unknown sitter in her twentiesembodies the affluent, upper-classwoman of marriageable age. Sheis fashionably dressed, dignifiedand reserved in pose and facialexpression. The small dog she holdsis not just a status symbol. It wascommonly believed that the dog’sfaithfulness to its mistress signifiedthe female sitter’s loyalty to herhusband. Although women inthe Netherlands had more freedomthan their European counterparts,they were still expected to besubmissive to their spouses.
Childhood
Could this young girl of four alreadybe engaged? Her ring, the littlestatue (symbol of fertility), thecarnations, the fan and the peacock(symbol of Juno, goddess of child-birth) all refer to love and marriage.Her expensive silk-and-lace attireand prominent jewellery are signsof wealth. Only upper-class familieswould arrange marriages at such ayoung age.
Education was deemed less importantfor girls than boys. But rich younggirls went to school until the age often to learn reading, writing, religion,music, dance, sewing and French.They were prohibited from attendinguniversity, so instead they would besent to Paris to learn about fashion-able French culture first-hand. Girlsfrom poor families started to workfull-time jobs at an early age.
Old AgeElderly women were respected for their wisdom and piety. This affluent sitteris animated yet dignified. Was her husband also painted and the portrait nowlost, or was she a widow? As a widow, she could have legally assumed controlof her husband’s business. In the Netherlands, women headed one quarter ofall households at the time. The literacy rate was the highest in Europe, andthe ability to read helped women manage their households. Poor widowscontinued to work as long as they could before relying on the support of familyor neighbours. A small percentage of them found refuge in old-age homes thatwere funded privately or by the state.
FashionBy the middle of the 17th century Parisian fashion was all the rage. Well-to-do young women were no longer willing to wear the sombre clothes of theirmothers. Dresses were cut low, and fabrics were rich in colour and texture.Hair was curly and shoulder length with short bangs, while pearl necklaces,earrings and bracelets became trendy accessories.
Accessories for Women� Handkerchiefs with tassels were luxury items. By the 1640s they wereunfashionable for all but the elderly.� Instead of jewellery, older women wore ruffs, which were a symbol of wealthand respectability. A well-off woman could own thirty or more.� All Netherlandish women wore caps, indoors and out, during the first half ofthe 17th century.
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