Drie vrouwen en een kind 1848 - 1865

Diederik Franciscus Jamin created this small sketch of three women and a child with graphite. Although not dated, it was likely made in the Netherlands in the mid-19th century. We can read this image as a quick study of the social roles occupied by women in that era. The women, possibly a mother with her child, a maid, and a tradeswoman, each appear occupied with their own tasks. This was a time when social roles were heavily defined by class and gender. How might the artist have been engaging with these social structures? Was he making a commentary on the gendered division of labor, or perhaps just capturing a scene from everyday life? Historical resources, such as census records, might reveal information about the occupations of women during this time. What does this artwork tell us about the social conditions of the past, and how might those conditions still resonate today?