Onderwijs bij kaarslicht c. 1765 - 1770

Willem Joseph Laquy made this drawing of graphite on paper, titled ‘Onderwijs bij kaarslicht’, which translates to ‘Candlelight Education’ in English. Laquy lived during a time when access to education was deeply stratified, with gender and class largely determining who had the opportunity to learn. Through Laquy’s tender rendering, the viewer gets a sense of the intimate domesticity of female education. Yet this is no simple genre scene, as Laquy situates his subjects in a complex web of gazes and power dynamics. The teacher figure, presumably a mother, guides two girls in their studies. Above, a woman holds a candle, her gaze directed towards the viewer, as if acknowledging our presence. The image gently asks us to reflect on the value and limitations of education, particularly for women, during the 18th century. It underscores the quiet perseverance required to pursue knowledge under the limiting conditions of the time.