Zelfportret van Louis Moritz met zijn vrouw Anna Reijermans c. 1810

This is Louis Moritz’s self-portrait with his wife Anna Reijermans, made with pen in gray in the late 18th or early 19th century. In this drawing we see a reflection of social status during a time of political and cultural transformation in Europe. Moritz, an artist, positions himself alongside his wife in a manner that speaks to their shared identity and social standing. The intimacy and informality of the portrait suggests a shift towards more personal and domestic values characteristic of the bourgeois era. Consider the representation of Anna. Seated with what appears to be a book, she’s portrayed as an educated and cultured woman, reinforcing the era's changing roles for women within the domestic sphere. The choice to depict themselves together challenges traditional portraiture conventions. This artwork not only captures their likenesses but also hints at their shared values and aspirations during a period of significant social change.