Danse de fiançailles 1885

Luc-Olivier Merson created "Danse de fiançailles," a stained glass artwork with dimensions of 243.8 by 304.8 cm, around the late 19th or early 20th century. Consider the historical context: Merson lived during a time of significant social changes and his art often reflected an interest in historical and romantic themes. The artwork shows a scene evoking an idealized, pre-modern past, and the representation of gender roles is traditional, with women depicted as the focus of the dance. Engagement was one of the few sanctioned moments of public intimacy. How do we feel about the depiction of this ritual now? Does it evoke a sense of nostalgia, or does it remind us of the limitations placed on women in the past? Are you reminded of your own experiences of courtship rituals, or do you feel distanced from the scene depicted? The beauty of the stained glass and the romanticized vision of the past ask us to reflect on how we negotiate tradition and modernity in our own lives.