Boerin met brandhout onder haar arm 1657 - 1707

This etching, "Boerin met brandhout onder haar arm" (1657-1707), by Dutch artist Hendrik Bary, depicts a woman standing in profile with firewood under her arm. The composition is simple and direct, focusing on the figure of the woman and her humble occupation. The woman's clothing and posture convey a sense of rural simplicity, while the background, with its thatched roof and trees, further reinforces the scene's bucolic setting. The detailed lines of the etching give a sense of realism to the figure and surroundings. This artwork, now in the Rijksmuseum, is an example of Bary's talent for capturing everyday life in a realistic and evocative manner, and exemplifies the genre of peasant scenes prevalent in Dutch art.