Karikatuur van een vrouw die haar man nakijkt 1862

Pieter van Loon made this caricature of a woman looking after her man, in 1862. The sepia tones and delicate lines lend it an intimate, diaristic quality, allowing us a peek into 19th-century Dutch life. The woman in the drawing, with her back turned, seems caught between concern and resignation. The accompanying text, written in Dutch, suggests her internal monologue, a mix of longing and reproach, “If you go back to the pub, my darling, you will get a smack in the face.” This tension speaks to the fraught dynamics within domestic partnerships where gendered expectations and societal norms often dictated a woman's role. I am struck by how Van Loon subtly captures the woman's emotional state, her body language a blend of weariness and resolve. The woman, in her traditional garb, seems to embody the quiet strength and resilience of women navigating the complexities of love, duty, and the everyday struggles of life.