Dame en heer bij een trap in de buitenlucht 1836 - 1849

Here we see Carel Frederik Curtenius Bentinck's print, "Dame en heer bij een trap in de buitenlucht," rendered with etching. Made in the mid-19th century, this piece encapsulates the era's preoccupation with social interactions and gender dynamics. The scene presents a woman holding an umbrella who appears to be in conversation with a man on a staircase in an outdoor setting. The body language and attire of the figures suggest a narrative steeped in social class, where the woman's posture and dress indicate status. Bentinck subtly critiques societal norms by depicting a relationship bound by class, capturing a moment ripe with unspoken rules and expectations.