Twee vrouwen lezen een brief before 1886

Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter made this print, "Two Women Reading a Letter," sometime in the 19th century. The image presents an intimate glimpse into the world of female companionship. The women appear to be middle class, judging by their dress. This print reflects the growth of a reading culture in 19th century Netherlands. The Dutch were already famous for their reading culture in the 17th century, but by the 1800s reading and literacy were becoming more closely associated with women and the domestic sphere. Were women considered more docile, and therefore less dangerous if educated? The letter is a common motif in art of this period, and we might ask what significance the motif had, given that women’s access to the public sphere was often limited. What was communicated between women? What support networks did they have? To explore these themes, we might want to examine the history of women’s education, the publication history of popular novels, and the postal service in the Netherlands. Studying the visual culture of the period alongside these other sources helps us develop a better understanding of the social role of art.