Klederdracht van Noord-Holland, 1857 1857

Ruurt de Vries created this print titled, *Traditional Costumes of North Holland* in 1857. This lithograph, now held at the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into the prescribed identities of 19th-century women in the Netherlands. The artwork reflects a period where clothing was not merely functional but a marker of social identity. Each costume signified a woman’s place within her community, illustrating regional customs and perhaps even marital status. During this time, the Netherlands, like many European societies, placed significant emphasis on preserving local traditions. What we see here are carefully rendered images of women, their faces conveying a sense of quiet dignity. Note how their elaborate headwear and modest dresses speak to the cultural values of the time. This print, in its own way, perpetuated the norms and expectations of womanhood, but it also serves as a window into the everyday lives of women in the 1800s, an era of immense social change.