Pagina voor een familieregister met familietaferelen 1837 - 1854

Willem Frederik Wehmeyer created this page for a family register with family scenes in the mid-19th century. It gives us insight into the cultural values and social structures of the time. Family registers, like this one, served as visual records of lineage and social standing. Wehmeyer's imagery evokes the ideals of domesticity, marriage, and procreation that were central to bourgeois identity. But who had the privilege of having their family history recorded and celebrated in such a manner? The register underscores how class and social status shape historical narratives. The family register maintains traditional representations and develops alternative narratives, it reflects societal issues, and the emotional and personal dimensions of the piece. As you reflect on this drawing, consider the emotional and personal dimensions of recording one's family history. Think about the stories that are told, and perhaps more importantly, the ones that are left out.