Man en een vrouw met een baby in een interieur 1696

Hendrick van Beaumont created this red chalk drawing titled, *Man en een vrouw met een baby in een interieur*, which translates to Man and a Woman with a Baby in an Interior. With the figures set within the confines of an interior, the artwork draws us into an intimate family narrative. The image evokes questions about gendered roles and expectations. The woman, seated and holding the baby, embodies traditional notions of motherhood, while the man, seated nearby, gestures as if in conversation. Who holds the power in this domestic sphere? Is the woman’s role confined to child-rearing, while the man engages in intellectual or decision-making pursuits? In its quiet way, the artwork opens up broader conversations about the societal structures that shape our understanding of family, gender, and identity. It invites us to reflect on our own preconceived notions.