Keukeninterieur met een jonge vrouw met ontblote borst, in schaamte wegkijkend 1773

Pierre Charles Ingouf created this print, “Kitchen interior with a young woman with bared breast, looking away in shame,” in France in the late 18th century. Prints were a popular medium at this time, enabling the wide distribution of images and ideas. The image shows a young woman in a domestic setting, seemingly caught in a moment of vulnerability, while an older woman gestures towards her. To understand this image, we need to look at the broader context of 18th-century French society. What role did women occupy? What were the prevailing social attitudes toward female sexuality and shame? The print is dedicated to a Monsieur Alexandre, an archivist of the Royal Order. What was the function of the Royal Order? Did Ingouf's print comment on social structures? Was it intentionally conservative or progressive? Did it challenge art institutions? Answers to these questions lie in historical sources, such as letters, diaries, and official records. By examining these sources, we can understand the social conditions that shaped Ingouf's artistic production and the meanings that it would have held for its original audience.