Familie gezeten in een huiskamer c. 1827 - 1871

Théodore Fourmois created this print titled 'Familie gezeten in een huiskamer', or 'Family seated in a living room', in the 19th century. This was a period that saw significant shifts in family structures and social roles, particularly in the context of industrializing Europe. Fourmois offers us a scene of domesticity, centered around the women and children of the family. The composition subtly upholds traditional gender roles with the man standing in the background. Yet, the image also quietly acknowledges the emotional labor inherent in maintaining a home. Notice the details, the quiet interactions, the grandmother, the young child. What are they thinking, what are they feeling? The print invites us to consider the home as both a site of labor and a space of intimate connections, reflecting on how social expectations shape personal experiences.