Veuve en petit Deuil c. 1676

This print, made in France by Nicolas Bonnart around the turn of the 18th century, depicts a woman in mourning. But this is not just a simple observation, it's a commentary on social roles and expectations. The title, "Veuve en petit Deuil," or "Widow in Light Mourning," signals the visual codes at play. The woman's dress, while somber, hints at wealth and status. The setting, with its classical architecture and lush backdrop, suggests an elite environment. In this era, mourning was highly ritualized, a performance of grief dictated by social standing. Bonnart's print subtly critiques this performance, questioning the sincerity of outward displays of sorrow, which the text underneath the image suggests with the line, "That her mourning is only borrowed." Is she truly grieving, or simply playing a part? To fully understand this artwork, we might delve into etiquette manuals and fashion plates of the period, exploring how the institution of mourning shaped individual behavior and artistic representation. By doing so, we recognize that art is not made in a vacuum, but is deeply intertwined with the social and institutional forces of its time.