Venster met gordijnen after 1878

This print, "Venster met gordijnen" or "Window with curtains," offers us a glimpse into the domestic ideals of its time, created by an anonymous artist. It presents an ornate window display, complete with heavy drapes, intricate tassels, and a small decorative seat. The image evokes a sense of bourgeois comfort, reflecting the values of a society where domestic space was carefully curated to reflect status and taste. Consider the symbolism embedded in the design: the window, traditionally a space for women, mediating between the private and the public realms. The curtains, while functional, also represent a performance of privacy and display. The stool, seems almost as though it is waiting for its inhabitant. These domestic objects hint at the gendered expectations and social hierarchies of the time, where the home was a stage for enacting social roles. The artist invites us to reflect on the intimate relationship between identity, space, and societal expectations, and on who has the privilege to perform this role.