Deeze heer neemt afscheid van zyn vrouw; Zyn zoontje hem wel volgen wou 1761 - 1804

Hermanus Numan created this print in the Dutch Republic, sometime in the late 18th century. Notice how the artist uses a precise linear style to articulate the figures and setting. The composition is structured around a set of stairs, a visual device that literally elevates the wife and son, emphasizing their emotional and moral standing in the scene. The use of line, particularly in the clothing, creates a sense of movement and texture. The formal garden setting is meticulously detailed, providing a stage-like backdrop that enhances the theatrical quality of the departure. Consider how the artist destabilizes traditional notions of family and duty. The act of the father leaving, combined with the son's visible distress, introduces a tension between public duty and private emotion. This tension challenges the fixed values of domestic harmony typically idealized in art. The artwork invites ongoing interpretation about the complexities of familial and societal roles.