Klederdracht van Schouwen en Duiveland in Zeeland, 1857 1857

Ruurt de Vries made this print in 1857, capturing women in traditional dress from Schouwen en Duiveland in Zeeland. This province, marked by its island communities, developed unique clothing styles reflecting local identities and a deep connection to its maritime heritage. De Vries's representation offers a glimpse into the gendered division of labor and the economic activities of women in this region. The women, distinguished by their bonnets and voluminous skirts, are engaged in the trade of goods, their clothing signaling both regional identity and their role in the local economy. The act of depicting these women reinforces their visibility and acknowledges their contributions to the social fabric. However, it's also worth considering how de Vries, as a male artist, might have framed his subjects, potentially reinforcing or romanticizing certain aspects of their lives. The print invites us to reflect on how cultural identity is constructed and communicated through dress, and the complexities of representing women's lives within specific historical and cultural contexts.