Gotische binnenplaats in Galicië 1872

Auguste Numans created this print of a Gothic courtyard in Galicië using etching, although the exact date of its creation is unknown. The architecture looms large, dwarfing the women who occupy the space. Numans, working in the 19th century, a period marked by increasing industrialization and urbanization, turns to the past by depicting a medieval architectural space. The architecture feels like the primary subject. This interest in the medieval period can be understood in the context of emerging nationalism in Europe, a romanticized view of history, and the construction of national identities. Look closely, and you'll see that the courtyard is inhabited by women. Those who are seated are grouped closely together, creating a sense of community. Meanwhile, on the left stands a lone figure, set apart by her placement and perhaps also by her dress. The women give scale to the architecture, yet they also animate the space and suggest a world of social relations. Numans’s print highlights both the grandeur of the architecture and the subtle presence and lives of women within its walls, subtly offering an alternative narrative to the monumental.