Staande soldaat bij een zittende appelverkoopster 1800 - 1841

Joannes Bemme made this print, "Standing Soldier with a Seated Apple Seller," sometime around the turn of the 19th century. It depicts a soldier interacting with a woman selling apples, offering a glimpse into the everyday life of the Netherlands during a time of political upheaval. The print invites us to consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production. Bemme created this image during a period of revolution and war, with the Batavian Republic under French influence. The soldier's presence underscores the militarization of society, while the apple seller represents the common people trying to make a living amidst the turmoil. Was Bemme commenting on the social structures of his time? Was he self-consciously conservative or progressive? To understand better what this work might mean, we can use newspapers, military records, and economic data to more fully understand the cultural and institutional context.