Sheet of Sketches: Men, Women and Mice n.d.

This sheet of sketches by Auguste Raffet presents a study of women and mice, created at an unknown date using pen and brown ink with watercolor over graphite. Raffet, who lived through a period of significant social change in France, captures in these sketches the lives of ordinary people in the early to mid-19th century. The women are depicted in what appears to be traditional peasant attire, involved in domestic activities, reflecting the gendered division of labor prevalent at the time. The presence of mice introduces a layer of social commentary, perhaps alluding to the domestic concerns and daily struggles of these women. Are the mice meant to be a plague or pets? This artwork prompts us to consider the representation of women in art history, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, and to explore the symbolic meanings embedded in everyday life. The sketches evoke a sense of intimacy, drawing us into the world of these women and their interactions with their environment, inviting us to reflect on the complex interplay between gender, class, and the natural world.