Jonge vrouw dekt een tafel in een rijkelijk gedecoreerd vertrek 1851 - 1909

Théodore Joseph Cleynhens created this print of a young woman setting a table in a richly decorated room, likely sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The scene offers a glimpse into the domestic life of what appears to be a wealthy household, reflecting the social structures and class distinctions prevalent in Europe at the time. The act of setting a table, a seemingly mundane task, becomes significant when viewed through the lens of social history, highlighting the roles and expectations placed upon women. To better understand the social conditions that shaped Cleynhens' artistic production, we might turn to sources such as historical records and sociological studies of European society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In doing so, we recognize that the meaning of this artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.