CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 11/25/2015

Class Distinctions

"The protagonist in a Dutch farce of 1686 laments the chaos wrought by those who dress above their station," Marieke de Winkel writes in Class Distinctions: Dutch Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's gorgeous hardcover catalogue for the current exhibition of 17th century Dutch masterpieces depicting aspects of class and station. "The 'good wife' in the play of that name says it's important to know whom to address as 'Milady, Madam or Mistress, and who should be called Meg or Kate.' Meg and Kate, the lowest in rank, were the maidservants, known only by their Christian names. The wife goes on: 'The disorder with regard to dress is a disgrace; one's station cannot be distinguished. Just look at well-born people of means: what do they wear that is not immediately imitated by burghers' wives and daughters? And what do they, in turn, wear that is not copied by maidservants." Featured image is Pieter de Hooch's "Courtyard of a House in Delft," 1658. See more 2015 Holiday Gift Books. >>