Hoofd van een oude vrouw met muts en een boek in haar hand 1862 - 1908

Piet Verhaert created this etching, "Head of an Old Woman with Cap and a Book in her Hand," around the turn of the 20th century. It offers us a glimpse into the artist’s social environment and the cultural values attached to age and wisdom. The image itself, with its stark lines and intimate scale, evokes the quiet dignity of the subject. We see an elderly woman, her face etched with the marks of time, holding a book. The book, a symbol of knowledge, suggests that even in old age, there is still a place for learning and reflection. Verhaert, working in Belgium, was influenced by the socio-political climate of the time, with its focus on realism and the lives of ordinary people. Institutions such as the Royal Academy played a crucial role in shaping artistic production, encouraging artists to engage with the social realities around them. To fully understand this artwork, we might explore the archives of the Royal Academy, the artist’s personal correspondence, and contemporary social histories. This allows us to appreciate how art serves as a reflection of its time, shaped by the forces of culture and institutions.