Vrouw in raffiarok bij kind in hangmat 1830 - 1880

This is Adolphe Mouilleron’s etching "Woman in raffia skirt with child in hammock", now at the Rijksmuseum. The composition uses contrasting textures and light to draw us into a quiet, intimate scene. At the top, we see a woman leaning over a hammock, rendered with fine, detailed lines that give a sense of softness. Below, the rougher textures of animal skins are sketched with looser strokes. Mouilleron uses the formal structure of the image to convey a set of social and symbolic ideas. The woman could be viewed as an exotic “other”, given how the image emphasises the relationship between nature and “primitive” life. The scene also seems to reflect European fantasies about tropical places. The hammock, a cultural artefact in the scene, is not just a place for the child to rest, but also a symbol that reflects broader cultural ideas and artistic license. What do you think this says about the artist’s view of different cultures and our interpretations today?