Twee vrouwenhoofden 1773 - 1777

Jean François Janinet created this print titled 'Two Female Heads' using etching and roulette techniques. This piece was made during an era of significant social change. The late 18th century was a time when traditional gender roles were being questioned, and new ideas about women's identities were emerging. You can see in the woman on the left, who wears a headscarf, an echo of traditional representations. Yet both figures here avoid the male gaze. One looks down, demure, and the other closes her eyes, self-contained. Consider that Jean François Janinet lived through the French Revolution, a time of upheaval and transformation. The revolution called for liberty and equality, and these ideals began to influence how women were seen and how they saw themselves. It's intriguing to view the private, almost introspective nature of these portraits in this context. They stand in stark contrast to the more performative and public roles women often had to play.