We have been your subjects for a long time c. 18th century

Curator: Jean Dambrun's "We have been your subjects for a long time," presents us with a scene of what seems to be a rather formal interior, etched with delicate lines. Editor: The immediate sense I get is one of quiet observation. Everyone seems so contained, yet on the verge of some subtle drama. Curator: Absolutely, and if we examine the etching process, we're seeing a replication of social dynamics. Dambrun, active in the late 18th century, participates in a print market keen to mirror and perhaps critique aristocratic culture. The very act of making multiple images transforms an intimate moment into a commodity. Editor: It's as if we're peeking through a keyhole, witnessing a staged tableau of social rituals. What strikes me is the contrast in postures, the seated man with his legs so casually outstretched, against the woman bent intently over her work. Curator: This contrast underscores the societal expectations and division of labor, where leisure for one relies upon the other's productivity. Editor: I'm left wondering about their inner lives, the stories beneath their refined surfaces. Curator: A compelling reminder of the power structures embedded even within seemingly harmless vignettes of everyday life.