Dienstmeid met stoof 1776 - 1815

Marie Lambertine Coclers, a woman artist working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, created this etching, ‘Dienstmeid met stoof,’ translating to ‘Maid with foot stove.’ Coclers, born in an artistic family, was working during a time of shifting social structures, just before the French Revolution, when gender roles were firmly established. This image depicts a domestic servant, identifiable by her simple attire and wooden shoes, attending to a stove, a common household item used to keep warm. The etching captures a moment of quiet domesticity, but it also speaks to the economic realities and labor divisions of the time. The young woman’s downcast eyes and posture might evoke feelings of empathy for her position in the social hierarchy. Through her delicate rendering, Coclers not only portrays a common scene but also invites reflection on the lives of working-class women, subtly challenging the traditional representations of women in art.