The Theater of Women
I stumbled across Im Frauwenzimmer Wirt vermeldt von allerley schönen Kleidungen vnd Trachten der Weiber / hohes vnd niders Stands / wie man fast anallen Orten geschmückt vnnd gezieret ist / Als Teutsche / Welsche / Frantzösische / Engelländische / Niderländische / Böhemische / Vngerische / vnd alle anstossende Länder ( The Women’s Wardrobe Room will be announcing varieties of all kinds of beautiful clothing and costumes of women, of high and low standings, as one is almost at all locations decorated and adorned, as German, Foreign, French, English, Netherlandish, Bohemian, Hungarian, and all Adjoining Countries) through the GermanRenCostume yahoo group, and when I noticed that it hadn’t been translated into English I jumped at the opportunity to do so. Over the course of the Spring 2009 semester, I translated the text along with the helpful edits of my German professor. I have decided to post the translations that relate to Netherlandish and Flemish women.
Because of the nature of the text and the drawings, these are definitely not the most reliable sources when it comes to the accuracy of the women’s dress, however what Conrad Lautenbach has to say about the women is very interesting.
Ein Jungfraw auss Flandern
[57] A Young Woman from Flanders
Thus a young woman is accustomed
to adorn herself in Flanders
Well formed of face and figure,
her virtue pleases everyone,
In words she is charming,
in gestures entirely noble,
As she were a child of Venus,
swift and quick with work.
Ein Weib auss Flandern
[58] A Woman of Flanders
The dress among people
makes a difference in everyplace,
A Flemish woman is dressed,
as the figure here shows.
And although she wears simple clothes,
she acts fairly and properly,
and she entirely pleases her husband,
so he should heed no other.
Ein Hollaenderin.
[59] A Woman From Holland
Thus a merchant’s wife dresses
her lovely body in Holland,
when she goes from her house,
to address her business,
She lowers her eyes,
but her face is cheerful,
and is indeed quick and ready
to give everyone reply.
Ein Brabaendische Niderlaenderin
[60] A Netherlandish Woman from Brabant
Thus the women in Brabant
dress themselves with good garments,
When they go before respectable people,
like I have now seen.
But one can not depict their lovely figure
quickly with the hands,
They are ready and willing,
to do all the womanly work.
Ein Niderlaenderin vom Adel
[61] A Netherlandish Woman of Nobility
A woman born in the Netherlands,
chosen from noble blood,
Thus is accustomed to adorn herself,
as depicted before you here.
Not unequal to the Armenians
whom they hierin follow,
Rather it is their praise, breeding, respectability,
and honor that is famous far and wide.
Ein Niderlaendische Magd
[62] A Netherlandish Maid
Also in the Netherlands
Maids wear clothes according to their status,
as everyone can bear witness,
like this figure shows,
They are their mother’s children,
although they are somewhat dirty,
from work or kitchen smoke,
they are also to be praised.