Vrouwen op jacht in een bos 1896

Gaston de Latenay created this print, "Women Hunting in a Forest," using lithography. This scene challenges traditional gender roles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when women were often confined to domestic life. Here, we see women confidently moving through a forest, an act that symbolized freedom. Their clothing, though still somewhat formal, suggests a departure from typical attire, hinting at a shift in social expectations. The forest is a place of escape, the artist subtly asks us to consider the emotional landscape of women seeking independence. Did Latenay see women's participation in hunting and other traditionally masculine activities as a step toward greater equality? The artwork becomes a statement about the evolving roles of women in society and their growing desire for autonomy.