Plate 19: a family and a boy playing with a dog outisde a house, from the series of customs and pastimes of the Spanish people 1850

Francisco Lameyer y Berenguer created this print, titled "Plate 19: a family and a boy playing with a dog outside a house, from the series of customs and pastimes of the Spanish people," using etching. Born in Spain during a period of considerable social change, Lameyer's series offers us a glimpse into the everyday lives of ordinary people. In this piece, we see the lives of a family, their leisure, and their domesticity. The figures, rendered with a deep sensitivity, allow us to consider their social roles. The women are central, surrounded by children, while the men seem to stand more guard than participant. The domestic space seems active, inclusive, and familiar to the viewer. Lameyer lived through a time of significant social and political upheaval in Spain. We might read this image as a vision of hope, a document of the working class, and a commentary on the shifting roles within Spanish society during the 19th century. The print resonates with a sense of intimacy, inviting us to reflect on our own social and domestic experiences.