Vrouw met spoel 1821

Louis Philibert Debucourt created this print called 'Vrouw met spoel' using aquatint. Debucourt worked during a fascinating period, straddling the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a time of revolution and significant social change in France. In this print, the focus isn’t just on a woman with a spindle, but on representing a certain ideal of femininity and class. Look at the details of her clothing, the delicate lace and the way her bodice is laced up: clothing, and how it is worn, operates as a signifier of social standing, and perhaps, an aspirational identity. How might this image reflect or challenge the social norms of Debucourt’s time? Consider the gaze of the sitter, which engages the viewer. The artist invites us to consider not just what is seen, but also the complex interplay of gender, class, and representation. The artwork serves as a lens through which we can examine the construction of identity.