Menukaart op naam van meneer Emile Steyns c. 1880 - 1920

This menu card, dedicated to Mr. Emile Steyns, presents an intimate glimpse into the cultural rituals of dining and social identity. In the absence of explicit details about its creation, we might consider how this piece reflects broader societal norms around gender and class. Whose tastes and preferences are being centered? How does the act of personalizing a menu in this way reinforce or subvert those power dynamics? The design motifs themselves, with their classical allusions, speak to a desire for sophistication and cultural capital. This card invites us to contemplate the unwritten scripts that govern our interactions and the ways in which seemingly mundane objects can hold profound social meaning. It raises questions about who is invited to the table, and whose stories are being told.