Heer die de hand van een dame kust 1801

Reinier Vinkeles, who lived between 1741 and 1816, made this print of a man kissing a lady's hand. The image is full of the codes and cultural references of its time, referencing a society in which prescribed gender roles were performed in highly ritualized ways. Prints such as this one were a powerful force in shaping social norms. In 18th-century Netherlands, where this was made, they were widely circulated and consumed, teaching the public how to behave and what to value. They played an important role in maintaining existing class structures, and in influencing gender roles. The printmakers and publishers were powerful cultural institutions. The historian looks beyond the surface appearance of the artwork, delving into archives of letters, diaries, and social commentaries to reveal the social dynamics at play. By understanding the context, we see the artwork as a reflection of societal values and power structures.