Vrouw hangt buiten de was op bij een boerderij 1872 - 1913

Henri Rul created this etching titled "Vrouw hangt buiten de was op bij een boerderij" or "Woman hanging laundry outside on a farm." Rul’s landscapes and genre scenes, though traditional in style, often subtly questioned the rapid industrialization of the Netherlands and the displacement of traditional rural life. The detailed rendering of the farm buildings, coupled with the mundane act of laundry, offers a glimpse into the daily lives of rural Dutch women. The use of etching, a printmaking technique, allowed for multiple reproductions, broadening the work’s audience and impact. To truly understand Rul’s place in Dutch art history, scholars consult period exhibition catalogues, artists’ correspondence, and local histories. These resources provide insight into the cultural values and artistic debates shaping his work. They reveal an artist wrestling with tradition amidst a rapidly changing world.