Landscape with a woman spinning and a woman nursing a child 1755 - 1799

This is Johann Balzer’s “Landscape with a woman spinning and a woman nursing a child,” a print which likely dates to the late 18th century. Balzer was active during the Enlightenment, a period defined by the rise of scientific reasoning, individualism, and a re-evaluation of social norms. Against this backdrop, Balzer presents us with a rural scene dominated by women. One woman spins thread, embodying labor and self-sufficiency, while another nurses a child, symbolizing motherhood and care. The cottage and landscape suggest a life close to nature, far from the concerns of urban society. The print invites reflection on the shifting roles assigned to women in the eighteenth century. Such images gained popularity as society grappled with questions of virtue, domesticity, and the natural order. Balzer’s image is interesting as it idealizes rural life but also acknowledges the labor and responsibilities that define women’s existence. It's a tender image, shaped by its time, reflecting both the possibilities and constraints of the Enlightenment era.