Man schrikt van vrouw die haar sluier afneemt 1776 - 1822

This engraving, 'Man schrikt van vrouw die haar sluier afneemt' by Johannes Christiaan Bendorp, presents a dramatic scene frozen in time. Made in the Netherlands, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century, the image encapsulates prevailing social norms of the time, particularly concerning gender and class. Here, a woman removing her veil elicits a visible shock from a man, highlighting the cultural expectations around female modesty and the power dynamics inherent in such displays. The setting, likely an upper-class interior, reinforces the idea that these norms are upheld by specific social strata. In this piece, we see not just an image, but a condensed narrative about societal expectations. To fully grasp its meaning, we might turn to conduct in etiquette manuals, literature, and other visual media from the period, uncovering the intricate web of beliefs that shaped its creation and reception.