Jonge vrouw kijkt langs een gordijn naar buiten 1850

Guillaume Joseph Vertommen made this print of a young woman looking out of a window in Belgium in 1851. The print offers a glimpse into the domestic life of the Belgian bourgeoisie. Confined indoors, the woman’s gaze directs us to the world outside, but her social role as a woman restricts her from participating in that world. The image raises questions about the social conditions that shape the lives of women in 19th-century Belgium. Were women encouraged to pursue their intellectual interests, or were they primarily confined to the domestic sphere? What opportunities were available to women outside the home? As art historians, we use various resources to understand the context in which such works were created. We can consult historical documents, literature, and other visual sources to gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional norms of the time. By examining the cultural and historical context, we can uncover the layers of meaning embedded within the work and better understand its relationship to the broader social and political landscape.