Jonge vrouw bij een bankje in het bos 1867

Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren created this print of a young woman by a bench in the woods using etching and engraving. Although undated, we can situate it in the late 19th century, when rapid industrialization led to new social codes around class and gender. Here, a woman stands in a wooded area, her gaze directed off to the side, while a man is visible in the background. The setting and the woman’s attire evoke the leisure and privilege afforded to the upper classes, yet the woman seems to be alert and perhaps troubled. This detail offers a slight departure from traditional representations of women during this time, who were often portrayed as passive and ornamental. What does it mean for a woman to take up space in the public sphere, especially during a time when social mobility was becoming more fluid? The woman’s expression suggests an awareness of the complexities and perhaps anxieties of her position. The scene evokes a sense of introspection, which invites us to reflect on the changing roles and expectations placed upon women.