The Farewell (Les Adieux) 1777

Robert Delaunay created this print entitled 'The Farewell (Les Adieux)' without a specified date. The etching captures a moment of departure, steeped in the rigid customs of its time. The woman's elaborate gown, a clear marker of her upper-class status, contrasts sharply with the emotional weight of the scene. The artist draws us into the intimate world of the aristocracy while raising questions about the performance of gender and class. What does it mean to say goodbye, particularly when your identity is so wrapped up in social expectations? The way the woman is framed, almost pushed out of the doorway, hints at the constraints placed upon women of her status. Through the use of monochrome etching, Delaunay subtly critiques the societal norms. 'The Farewell' becomes a poignant look at personal emotions weighed against the backdrop of societal role-play.