Nimfen en putto aan de waterkant 1851 - 1865

Célestin Nanteuil created this black and white print titled 'Nymphs and Putto at the Waterfront'. Nanteuil, who lived between 1813 and 1873, situated himself in the Romanticism movement. During this period, society was rapidly changing due to industrialization and urbanization. In response, the Romantics turned inward, celebrating intense emotion, imagination, and the beauty of the natural world. Here we see Nanteuil's play with light and shadow, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The figures seem to emerge from the darkness, their forms fluid and ethereal. The nymphs, classical mythological figures associated with nature, have been a recurring subject in art history, often embodying idealized femininity. This piece invites us to consider how women have historically been portrayed in art, often as objects of male desire or symbols of purity and beauty, while also questioning our current understanding and representation of gender and identity. The figures feel caught between worlds, their expressions suggesting both longing and vulnerability.