Boompartij 1817 - 1884

This small print, “Boompartij”, was made by Jean Alexis Achard in France, sometime around 1824. It depicts a group of young people in a moment of lighthearted fun, one drawing a moustache on another. This image offers a window into the social dynamics of its time. Made in the post-Revolutionary period, it reflects a culture grappling with shifting social norms and identities. The act of playfully drawing on someone's face hints at a subversion of established decorum and social hierarchy. Is this poking fun at the rigid gender norms of the day? The clothing of the figures, the composition of the image, and the setting, are all important visual codes that an art historian would analyze to place this print in its historical context. Researching the printmaking industry in France in the 1820s would also help us to understand its meaning.