Handwerkende vrouw en lezende jongen 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this drawing of a woman sewing and a boy reading, using pen and ink. Lion Cachet lived through a time of enormous shifts in the social roles of women and girls. Here we see a scene of domestic tranquility: the woman engages in needlework, a traditional symbol of feminine virtue and domesticity, while the boy is seated and immersed in a book. This contrast underscores prevailing gendered expectations of the era, where women were often relegated to the domestic sphere, while boys were encouraged towards education and intellectual pursuits. Lion Cachet's choice to depict this particular scene invites us to reflect on these gendered divisions and the limited opportunities afforded to women during his time. This image quietly challenges us to consider the emotional and intellectual lives of women. It leaves us pondering the unspoken narratives within the domestic space.