Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Artist: Quirijn Gerritsz. van Brekelenkam (Dutch, Zwammerdam (?), after 1622–ca. 1669 Leiden)
Satchel in hand, a boy dressed in an overcoat and wearing a large hat, is eating a piece of bread from the breakfast counter, while mother hastily adjusts her daughter’s headcover or coif to prepare her for school. In Holland learning how to read, write, and do math was considered essential for a child’s success in life and offered to both genders. In fact, Holland was the only nation in 17th-century Europe to provide primary education to girls as a matter of course, preparing literate, savvy female citizens ready to build their futures in Holland, as well as in the New World.
In New Amsterdam, Annetje Jans, after being widowed and previous to her marriage with Rev. Everardus Bogardus, made sure that the children from her first marriage – Sara [Kierstede], Triintje, Sijtjen, Jan and Annitjen – would continue to receive an excellent education. This is clearly stated in the “Declaration” or “Settlement Upon Her Minor Children by Roeloff Jansen,” first drawn up in 1638 and confirmed in 1642: “to bring them up according to their means, to provide them with the necessary clothing and food, to keep them at school, to let them learn reading, writing and a good trade, all according to their ability.” https://encyclopedia.nahc-mapping.org/document/settlement-annetje-jans-upon-her-minor-children-roeloff-jansen-her-first-husband.
Reference: Medium: oil on panel
Dimension: 58 x 51,5 cm.
Location: art market