Woman Carrying a Basket 

Cornelis Bega created this etching of a "Woman Carrying a Basket" during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of unprecedented economic growth and cultural flourishing in the Netherlands. Yet, this prosperity was not shared by all, and Bega’s work offers a glimpse into the lives of the working class. The woman depicted is a study in contrasts; the weight of her labor is palpable in her posture. The basket atop her head hints at the everyday commerce that fueled the Dutch economy, but it is the woman, often overlooked and unnamed, who is literally carrying the weight of this prosperity. Bega captures her resilience. This image invites us to consider the countless untold stories of women whose labor sustained their communities, prompting us to reflect on the gendered division of labor and the often-unacknowledged contributions of working-class women. In viewing this etching, we are reminded of the human cost of economic success.