Officier en dame met roos in haar hand

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Officier en dame metos in haar hand** a delicate etching by Dutch artist Joannes Bemme created sometime between 1800 and 1841. The title, translating to "Officer and Lady with a Rose in Her," evokes a tender moment of courtship: a uniformed officer gazes at a elegantly dressed woman holding a single rose, a classic symbol of love and romance Bemme, active in the Netherlands during the Napoleonic era and the early Kingdom of the Netherlands, specialized in such intimate genre scenes, capturing the sentimental spirit of the Romantic period amid shifting political landscapes. Etched on a modest plate measuring 280mm high by 200mm wide, this print showcases the medium's strengths—precise, fluid lines etched into metal with acid, allowing for rich tonal contrasts and subtle textures in fabrics and expressions. Etching was a popular technique for disseminating affordable art to middle-class homes, making Bemme's works accessible beyond elite patrons. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228 (associated with 19th-century French collector Eugène Dutuit), this piece highlights its journey through esteemed collections, underscoring its enduring appeal as a window into early 19th-century Dutch social graces and romantic ideals. A charming glimpse of bygone affections! (198 words)