The Reader 1850 - 1900

Henri Jean Augustin de Braekeleer created this print, ‘The Reader,’ in 19th century Belgium, an era marked by significant social change. The act of reading itself was gaining prominence as literacy rates increased, reflecting a shift towards greater access to knowledge and self-improvement among the middle classes. The image is rendered in etching, a printmaking technique that allowed for the wide circulation of images. This hints at the expanding art market and the democratization of art consumption. We see the figure of the reader, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, amidst domestic objects that imply bourgeois comfort. The cultural codes of the time would have read this scene as one of quiet contemplation and intellectual engagement, very different from the tavern scenes from the same time. Further research into De Braekeleer's life and the cultural context in which he worked would illuminate the social values he sought to convey through this intimate portrayal of a solitary reader.