Gezelschap in een interieur 1772 - 1828

Nicolaas van der Worm created this print, titled "Gezelschap in een interieur," sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Van der Worm lived through the Batavian Republic and the Napoleonic Kingdom of Holland, turbulent times for the Dutch Republic. Here, he offers us a glimpse into the daily life of a family gathered inside a modest home. Notice the division of labor implied by the men seated around the table seemingly engaged in some kind of craft, while the women and children stand by. A birdcage hangs above, perhaps alluding to the confined domestic sphere, especially for women and children. The artist refrains from idealizing their existence; instead, he captures the textures of their labor and communal life with an intimate, almost documentary style. Van der Worm invites us to consider the myriad ways in which people find connection and meaning within the constraints of their social circumstances. It prompts us to reflect on our own ties to community, and the spaces we inhabit.