December c. late 18th century

Robert Dighton created this hand-colored etching titled "December". We see a woman of the English upper class passing time, perhaps alone, at the close of the year. The late 18th century was an era of immense social change, marked by revolutions and shifting class structures. Here, the woman's engagement with fortune-telling cards invites us to consider the uncertainties and desires that might occupy her world. Are they reflective of a broader societal mood? Is this a time when old certainties are being questioned? The inclusion of the domestic cat hints at the comforts and constraints of her privileged domestic life. The quiet, contemplative mood evokes a sense of the personal and emotional dimensions of life in a period defined by social upheaval. The work doesn't necessarily reinforce traditional representations of women, but rather it offers a glimpse into the nuanced experiences of a woman navigating a changing world.