Reproductie van een tekening van een portret van Marie van Belle, door André Hennebicq 1882 - 1883

Léon Evely made this reproduction of a drawing of Marie van Belle with some form of printmaking, though the exact method isn't specified. The image presents a woman writing at an ornate desk. Without a specific date, understanding its context is tricky, but the style evokes the late 19th century. During that era, there was a growing interest in historical romanticism, particularly in representing women engaged in intellectual pursuits. This was a period of complex shifts in women's roles in society, between the domestic sphere and the public intellectual life. The desk she is writing at looks almost like a pulpit, which might suggest the artist wanted to imbue Marie van Belle with authority and intelligence. To fully understand the meaning and purpose of this reproduction, we would need to delve into biographical details, the artistic networks of Léon Evely, and the tastes of the art market at the time. Only then could we discern whether this image was intended as a progressive statement or a nostalgic echo of the past.