Vrouw gedragen op een draagbaar 1768 - 1813

Samuel Gränicher created this print, titled "Vrouw gedragen op een draagbaar," using etching. This image transports us to a specific social milieu, likely of the 18th century, where the act of carrying someone on a litter isn't merely a practical matter, but a statement of social hierarchy. The print offers us a glimpse into the power dynamics of the time, and the way social status permeates even the most mundane activities. We see not only the figures in transit but also the attendants, their costumes, and their postures. By examining costume books, conduct manuals, and other visual and textual sources, we can begin to reconstruct the complex web of meanings that would have been immediately apparent to viewers at the time. Through such research, we can better understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery.