Lezende vrouw op een stoel in haar ochtendkleding 1803 - 1810

This engraving shows a woman reading while seated, and was made in England around 1800. The image speaks to the rise of literacy and shifting gender roles during the late 18th century. The woman is depicted in her "undress," or morning clothes, suggesting a degree of intimacy and informality. During this time, conduct books became increasingly popular and emphasized the importance of female education and intellectual pursuits. The act of reading becomes a symbol of personal growth and refinement, yet the woman's attire hints at the constraints placed upon women within the domestic sphere. To fully understand this image, we can turn to sources like conduct manuals, fashion plates, and social histories to gain insight into the complex interplay of gender, class, and culture in 18th-century England. Art, after all, always reflects the particular institutions of its time.