Køkkenpige 1723 - 1747

Hinrich Jacob Pohle created this miniature painting, "Køkkenpige", which translates to "Kitchen Maid," sometime in the 1700s. Pohle’s intimate portrayal invites us to consider the lives of working-class women in 18th-century Denmark. While portraits of the wealthy were common, depictions of domestic workers were rare. The flowers in her hair seem to soften the grim reality of the laborious work she would have undertaken. As we gaze into her eyes, we might wonder about her dreams, her struggles, and her place in a society that often overlooked her existence. Pohle's delicate rendering offers not just a glimpse into a particular life, but also encourages reflection on the historical and ongoing narratives of labor, gender, and class. By humanizing a figure often relegated to the background, Pohle challenges traditional representations.