Wafelbakster 1771

Johann Georg Wille created "Wafelbakster," or "The Wafer Baker," an engraving now held at the Rijksmuseum. In this domestic scene, a woman pauses from baking waffles to offer them to a group of eager children. Wille, who lived through the Enlightenment, captured a genre scene reflecting the era’s focus on everyday life. Yet, this idealized depiction invites us to consider the gendered divisions of labor. The woman embodies domesticity, her work central to the family's sustenance, yet confined to the home. The expressions of the children, with their rosy cheeks and bright eyes, evoke a sense of innocence. However, the implied contrast between their carefree state and the woman’s labor also raises questions about class and privilege during the period. Wille's choice to portray this intimate moment prompts reflection on the narratives we construct around labor, family, and the roles individuals play within society. The image suggests a world of simple pleasures, yet hints at the complex social structures that underpin it.