Huishoudelijke bezigheden 1822 - 1849

This print titled ‘Huishoudelijke bezigheden’ or 'Household activities' was made by Mindermann & Co. in Amsterdam. The print visualizes a series of idealized images of women performing domestic tasks. Made in the Netherlands, each scene, such as washing clothes, cooking, or gardening, carries social and cultural weight. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Dutch Republic was a major economic and cultural power. This print reflects the social values of the time, where women's roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere. It speaks to the socio-economic conditions of the rising middle class. These kinds of prints were often used as educational tools, moral guides, or simply as decorative items for the home. Historical archives, prints and drawings collections, and social history texts would help in fully understanding the cultural values of that period. What does this idealized view of women’s labour tell us about the artist’s intention and the reception of this image by a Dutch audience?