Geblinddoekte vrouw tussen twee figuren 1895

Mathieu Lauweriks created this print titled "Geblinddoekte vrouw tussen twee figuren" which translates to "Blindfolded woman between two figures". Lauweriks was working at a time of great social change, when artists were exploring new forms of expression and grappling with questions of identity and representation. This print depicts a woman, blindfolded and vulnerable, flanked by two figures who seem to hold power over her. The woman in white, with her hands upon the blindfold, suggests innocence and perhaps even manipulation. Contrasting her, is the looming figure cloaked in shadow. The work evokes questions about societal expectations placed on women, about the loss of autonomy, and the subtle but pervasive ways in which power is exerted. The print could be seen as a reflection on the ways in which women’s identities were being negotiated and contested. The work invites us to consider how traditional representations of women were being challenged and reimagined. It's a stark reminder of the constraints placed upon women.