Vrouw met boek 1878

Roberto Fontana made this etching, Vrouw met boek, in 1870. It's an intimate view of a woman absorbed in her reading, a quiet moment rendered in delicate lines. Fontana, who lived during a period of significant social change, captures the growing importance of women's education and their evolving roles. The woman is portrayed from the back, seated, dressed in a large dress and facing away from the viewer, a book is barely visible in her lap. Her gaze seems directed inward, inviting us to contemplate her thoughts and experiences. The artist doesn't sexualize this woman, she is portrayed as an intellectual equal. This piece invites us to reflect on the changing landscape of women's roles and intellectual pursuits in the 19th century and to acknowledge their personal narratives.