Eine Magd mit einem Henkelkorb in Rückenansicht im verlornen Profil nach links 

Jacobus Johannes Lauwers created this sketch of a maid with a handle basket in lost profile to the left in the late 18th century. During this time, class distinctions were stark, and domestic workers were a common sight, yet often overlooked in artistic representations. Here, the artist captures a figure who is part of the infrastructure of daily life, yet she is given a quiet dignity. We see her from the back; her identity is concealed, and her story remains untold. The weight of the bucket she carries is palpable. The detail in the folds of her dress and the simple head covering speak to the modesty and the labor that define her existence. The sketch invites us to consider the lives of those who perform essential but often invisible work. It encourages us to reflect on the narratives of labor, gender, and class that are embedded in our everyday surroundings.