Brieflezende man 1778 - 1785

This etching by Dutch artist Noach van der Meer (II) titled "Brieflezende man" (Reading Man) depicts a gentleman standing by a window in an elegant interior, reading a letter. The scene is part of a larger series, and the title "De verhoorde minnaar" (The Reprimanded Lover) suggests a narrative of infidelity and perhaps a confrontation between the man and a woman. The detail of the woman departing through a doorway contributes to the drama of the scene. The image is a fine example of 18th-century Dutch Rococo style.