Fotoreproductie van een schets van verschillende lezende figuren door Albert Hendschel before 1870

This is a photographic reproduction by Theodor Huth, of a sketch of various figures reading, by Albert Hendschel. From the look of it, this image was likely created sometime in the 19th century. The rise of literacy during this time transformed social life in Europe, and it became increasingly common to see images of ordinary people, women, and children reading. Reading used to be the privilege of the upper classes, but it became a widespread habit. This image reflects these new forms of cultural participation. The image itself is entitled "From A. Hendschel's Sketchbook," which suggests the artist was interested in the artistic process. Images like this offer rich material to the social historian of art. We might ask, what kinds of institutional and economic changes made widespread literacy possible? What sorts of gendered and class expectations were circulating through the culture at this time? We can start to answer these questions by consulting archives, libraries, and other collections that hold books and pamphlets from this period.