Knielende man kust de hand van een zittende vrouw 1797 - 1836

Philippus Velijn created this print, *Kneeling man kisses the hand of a seated woman*, in the early 19th century. It captures a tableau of traditional gender roles within the upper class. The act of kneeling and kissing a woman's hand was a performative gesture, a visual language of courtship and class distinction. What is conveyed to you by this dynamic of power and submission? The woman, seated and slightly elevated, maintains a composed, almost indifferent posture. This could be a depiction of romantic pursuit, but also of the social expectations placed on women of the era, where marriage was often a transaction of status and wealth. Consider this image as more than just a depiction of a bygone era. It's an examination of the cultural scripts that have historically shaped interactions between men and women. In what ways do you see these power dynamics echoed, challenged, or subverted in contemporary society?