Visit 1897

Viggo Jastrau created this print called "Visit". Jastrau lived through a time of immense social change, including shifts in gender roles and class structures. This is deeply embedded in the print as the setting suggests the performance of social rituals and the negotiation of personal space and interaction during a formal visit. The women, dressed in the fashion of the time, engage in what seems like a restrained and polite conversation. The visual weight given to the figures suggests a deliberate focus on the social dynamics between women in the late 19th century. The gaze is drawn not just to their presence, but to the understated tension of decorum and the implied scripts of social conduct. It's hard to know the intimate details of their lives. Jastrau invites us to reflect on the complex dynamics of gender, class, and social expectations inherent in such a visit. While the artwork might seem to depict a simple social interaction, it underscores the emotional and cultural nuances of the era.