Werthers kennismaking met Charlotte 1787

Jan Evert Grave created this print, “Werther’s Introduction to Charlotte,” during the late 18th century in the Netherlands. It illustrates a scene from Goethe’s novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther," a story that captured the romantic sensibilities of the era. Here, Werther is depicted meeting Charlotte, surrounded by her family. The image encapsulates the novel’s themes of idealized love and social expectations. However, a closer look reveals the complexities of the period. Note the presence of a Black child among Charlotte’s children; this detail offers a glimpse into the domestic lives of European elites and the presence of enslaved or servant children within their households. While the print romanticizes Werther's emotional turmoil, it also quietly acknowledges the racial and class structures that underpinned 18th-century society. The emotional intensity of the encounter is heightened by the subtle undercurrents of social hierarchy and the realities of colonial power.