Oude slapende vrouw in een stoel aan tafel 1869 - 1899

This is an etching by Gaston Gérard, depicting an old woman asleep at a table. Although the exact date of its creation is unknown, Gérard was born in 1859 so we can assume it was made in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image evokes a sense of the everyday, perhaps a commentary on the lives of the working class in France at that time. Note the simple, functional objects in the room. The artist's choice to depict an older woman, who may have been seen as marginal to society, raises questions about representation and social visibility. To fully understand this work, we might delve into census records, oral histories, and other documents that shed light on everyday life at that time. Art history is not just about the genius of individual artists, but about the dialogue between art and society.