Vier verschillende voorstellingen 1840 - 1850

This print, whose date is unknown, by the brothers Van Lier, presents four distinct scenes, each offering a window into the social mores and power dynamics of its time. The top left image, titled "The Sale of a Slave," starkly depicts the dehumanization inherent in the slave trade. The vulnerability of the enslaved person, kneeling before her buyers, is a poignant reminder of the human cost of economic systems. The image challenges us to confront the uncomfortable truths about the relationship between commerce and human dignity. The scenes in the bottom register focus on domestic life. A nursing father and a woman caring for her household. These scenes are less sensational than those in the top register, and yet they still represent the social roles of the time. The image evokes questions about who is being represented, and how. Ultimately, this print encourages us to consider how power, be it economic or social, shapes individual experiences and collective memory.