Lezende man bij een raam 1846 - 1880

Eugène Gervais created this print, "Lezende man bij een raam" - or "Man Reading by a Window" - with etching and engraving. The figure depicted is lost in his reading. But what does it mean to present someone as a "bibliophile?" This print was published in the nineteenth century, at a time when public libraries and other institutions were expanding access to books. Notice how the man's clothing and pose recall an earlier era, perhaps the Dutch Golden Age. The books on the table further emphasize his erudition and set him apart from a growing reading public. The “bibliophile” was both a celebration of learning and a marker of social distinction. To truly understand this image, we can delve into the history of reading practices, the rise of the literary market, and the social codes around education in the 19th century. By exploring these histories, we uncover the complex ways that art both reflects and shapes social values.