Brieflezende jonge vrouw 1731 - 1740

Michael Schnell created this print, *Brieflezende jonge vrouw*, or *Young Woman Reading a Letter*, sometime in the 18th century using an etching technique. The print is structured around a soft, diffused light that gently models the figure of the young woman and the objects around her. Schnell employs a delicate balance of light and shadow. The composition directs our focus to the letter, emphasizing the act of reading as a moment of introspection and connection. We might interpret the image through structuralist lenses, observing how the act of reading—decoding symbols into meaning—mirrors the viewer’s experience of the artwork itself. The letter functions as a signifier of emotions and relationships, its contents unseen yet powerfully present. Ultimately, it invites us to consider how the communication of emotions and personal narratives, visually and textually, shapes our understanding of the world.