Koeienstal met melkmeid c. 1748 - 1771

This etching, *Koeienstal met melkmeid*, was created by Théodore Wynant Stallenbergh sometime in the 18th century. It depicts a milkmaid inside a cowshed, going about her daily work. In the 1700s, class divisions were stark, and rural labor was romanticized by the elite while being a harsh reality for many. Consider the milkmaid in this image: she is not idealized, but shown in the midst of her labor. Her social standing is evident in her simple dress, and her occupation is essential yet undervalued. The cowshed itself, with its dark, cramped spaces, speaks to the conditions in which she worked. Stallenbergh captures the quiet, unglamorous aspects of her life. This image isn't just a scene; it’s a glimpse into a life shaped by labor, class, and the everyday realities of 18th-century rural life. It invites us to consider the stories of those whose lives were defined by their work.