1 Alexia M. Paz March 9, 2021 FA 410-A Lady and Gentleman on Horseback by Aelbert Cuyp The Lady and Gentleman on Horseback is a double portrait that was worked on by Dutch artist, Aelbert Cuyp, between 1660 and 1665. This painting is found in the National Gallery of Art in the Widener Collection. The painting portrays an interesting idea that has caught my attention and led me to choose this painting for my research project. It focuses mainly on two individuals sitting on a horseback and create two points I would like to focus on for my research. First, their elegant outfits and accessories raises the question of what social class they belong to, and what class during this time is usually involved in equestrianism. Second, the fact that the woman and man are riding next to each other, points out an idea about gender roles. Ideally t Traditional portrait conventions would position women riding behind or to the left of men, however, in this painting the women form part of the center stage of this artwork as she rides next to the man. The woman standing out indicates her high socioeconomic status. Personally, I chose this artwork because of the idea of socioeconomic status and gender roles that the work could be describing. Social status is a topic I constantly think about since I come from a country where these social classes are strictly divided and can be easily identified. Also, as a female, I know the struggle of always being looked at as less next to men and how hard it is so stand out. Gender inequality is another issue seen in countries where I come from and the movement for women equality is strong. After looking at this painting and noticing how the double Commented [mt1]: check the assignment for your revision: title page! Commented [mt2]: I’m not so sure it raises a “question”: both seem to firmly establish what class they are from. Commented [mt3]: this is something you have to establish with evidence 2 portrait combine these two ideas, it caught my attention to do further research on the meaning and importance of the painting focusing on the social class, attitudes, and gender roles that are seen in Dutch culture through the people in the painting. The composition of Cuyp’s Lady and Gentlemen on Horseback is a two-dimensional painting on canvas. It is considered a double portrait since it is a representation of two people. In the early 17th Century, the types and style of portraits were governed by conventions to communicate status, identity, and attitudes. (p. 97) If we draw an imaginary line, or split the painting in half in an axis, there seems to be two different scenarios going on. In other words, the portrait shows symmetry and balance in the way the elements are arranged. It is like in the real world; the closer the element is towards the edge, the heavier it becomes visually and the closer an element is to the center, the lighter it becomes ...