Verstellende vrouw op een stoel 1828

Anthonie Willem Hendrik Nolthenius de Man created this print of a woman on a chair in 1828. It’s a small, intimate portrayal of a Gelderland farmer's wife, seated and mending clothes. During this period, the Netherlands, like much of Europe, was undergoing significant social and economic change. Traditional rural ways of life were increasingly idealized. There's a certain quiet dignity in how the artist captures her posture, her hands busy with work, her gaze downward. Notice how the simple act of mending becomes a focal point, a testament to her labor and resilience. The woman's clothing and head covering speak to her identity and social standing. The print invites us to reflect on the lives of women in rural communities. It presents not a grand narrative, but a humble, personal one.