In de zilverfabriek 1868 - 1892

Anthon Gerhard Alexander van Rappard made this pencil drawing, "In de Zilverfabriek," which translates to "In the Silver Factory", during a time when the Netherlands was rapidly industrializing. Van Rappard, though from a privileged background, often depicted the working class. Here, he illustrates the workers inside a silver factory, capturing their labor and the environment they occupy. The drawing provides a glimpse into the lives of these workers, their gender, class, and the realities of their daily existence. The loose lines suggest the hectic and monotonous nature of their work, the figures seem almost trapped in the industrial space. This work serves as a historical document, reflecting the social and economic changes of the late 19th century through the lives of the working class, reminding us of the human element within industrial progress.