Staande vrouw met hoed en omslagdoek 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos created this print of a standing woman with hat and shawl during a time of significant social change, somewhere between 1763 and 1838. This is a depiction of an ideal of womanhood rooted in domesticity and decorum, which was often a veiled attempt to control women’s roles in a rapidly changing society. The woman's attire is simple, even austere, yet elegant. Her hat and shawl suggest modesty and restraint, virtues highly prized during that era. But look closely at the slightly raised hem of her dress and how it suggests freedom of movement, a hint of the changing roles of women. Notice too, that the woman’s gaze is averted, perhaps symbolizing the limited agency afforded to women. Even so, the delicacy of the line work and the overall composition lend her a quiet dignity. How do you think this image would have resonated with women of the time, caught between societal expectations and their own aspirations?