Fotoreproductie van een schilderij door William Mulready, voorstellend een scene uit The Vicar of Wakefield door Oliver Goldsmith before 1880

This photogravure reproduces a painting by William Mulready and illustrates a scene from Oliver Goldsmith's novel, *The Vicar of Wakefield*. While the image is anonymous, it speaks volumes about 18th-century social dynamics. In the Victorian era, literature heavily influenced visual arts, reflecting the intertwined narratives of morality, class, and gender. Goldsmith's novel critiques societal values, presenting the complexities of family, virtue, and economic hardship through satire. Mulready's painting likely aims to capture this blend of pastoral idealism and social critique. Representations of women in art were often didactic, portraying them either as paragons of virtue or cautionary figures. How might the woman in this image be read through that lens? Is she a representation of innocence, or a figure entangled in the social and economic realities critiqued by Goldsmith? This artwork captures a moment in time, reflecting societal values. It allows us to reflect on how literature and art shape our understanding of ourselves, class, and each other.