Jonge visser lonkt naar het meisje dat bij hem staat, moeder in de bedstee op de achtergrond 1847 - 1909

Edgar Alfred Baes created this print, "Young fisherman looks at the girl standing next to him, mother in bed in the background" in the late 19th century, an era defined by distinct social roles. In the intimate interior, we see a young fisherman seated, gazing at a young woman. Her averted eyes, coupled with the watchful presence of her mother in the background, speak volumes about the period’s strict social expectations around courtship and female virtue. Baes subtly captures the complex interplay of desire, duty, and social constraint. The young woman stands on the precipice of adulthood, embodying both innocence and the weight of societal expectations. The fisherman’s longing gaze hints at the tension between individual desire and societal norms, a theme that resonates deeply when considering the restricted roles assigned to men and women during the 19th century. Baes invites us to reflect on how gender and class shaped personal experiences and societal expectations.