Vrouw in een leunstoel leest een brief 1836 - 1912

Eugène Smits created this print, "Woman in a Chair Reading a Letter," using etching. Smits, living in 19th century Europe, was part of a society undergoing significant shifts in gender roles and literacy. This piece, a quiet scene of a woman absorbed in her reading, reflects the increasing importance of female literacy and the growing, albeit still limited, access to education for women. Yet, her ornate dress and the domestic setting also remind us of the confined spaces women occupied. What does the letter say? The woman's face is unreadable. Is it news of love, loss, or simply the everyday minutiae of life? The presence of the bookshelf suggests intellect, but the woman’s elegant attire speaks to her position within a certain class. Is she free to choose her own path, or is she bound by the expectations of her social standing? This image is less about the content of the letter and more about the intimate moment of reading, a moment that provides both escape and perhaps, a deeper connection to the world.