Vrouw met waaier en man met hoed op een stoel in een menigte 1855 - 1913

Xavier Mellery made this etching of a woman with a fan and a man with a hat in a crowd, but the date is unknown. The scene depicts a social gathering, likely in Belgium where Mellery lived and worked. The composition suggests the rigid social structures of the late 19th century: the woman, elegantly dressed, holds a fan, a symbol of coquetry, while the man beside her is formally attired. Both are seated, observing or participating in a crowded event. Mellery’s choice to depict them from behind obscures their expressions, inviting speculation about their roles and feelings within this social tableau. As an artist trained within academic institutions, Mellery was very aware of the power of art to comment on social norms. Studying the prints and engravings collected by institutions such as this one enables us to understand how artists like Mellery negotiated prevailing social norms of the time. We can consider whether his work challenged or reinforced those conventions.