HISA04H3 Lecture Notes - Little Ice Age
Document Summary
Painted in what is now the netherlands, back then was the united provinces. Woman in painting is measuring something, weight coins. There were no common currencies in any countries back then. Netherlands introduced currency, minted coins, but went out of circulation displaced by silver and gold coins by other countries. Gold and silver of back then were softer; you had to weigh them to make sure they are worth what they are worth. New focus on money and morals has shifted as if to say money is everything". Woman looks well-off, she takes cares of finances at home, there are coins stacked up near the pearls; quite a large quantity of gold and silver coins. Painting in the back is the last supper, and it contrasts the difference between focus on wealth and the focus on religion between the two periods.
