CODART, Dutch and Flemish art in museums worldwide

Reflecting Class in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer

Exhibition: 24 February - 29 May 2016

This groundbreaking exhibition examines 17th-century Dutch paintings in light of the new Republicā€™s social structure. Although the Dutch Republic was relatively democratic at the time, class distinctions remained and conveyed a variety of meanings to its citizens.

Through approximately 71 carefully selected and arranged paintings, this exhibition will present the ways in which Dutch pictures reflect various socio-economic groups. Additionally, three place settings featuring the everyday tableware of the upper, middle, and lower classes will bring to life the tangible differences within the Republicā€™s stratified population.

By exploring how class distinctions were expressed and the associations each group held, a more nuanced picture of Dutch society will emerge. Highlights of the exhibition include Vermeerā€™s A Lady Writing and portraits by Rembrandt and Hals.

This exhibition was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.