Staande vrouw met stok en mand op de rug 1834 - 1862

Pieter Marinus van de Laar created this watercolor, "Standing Woman with Stick and Basket on Her Back," in the mid-19th century. Van de Laar, working during a time of significant social change, presents us with more than just a pastoral scene. Here, labor and landscape converge as the barefoot woman, rendered in muted tones, carries a heavy load, her posture suggesting resilience amidst hardship. The windmill in the background isn't merely picturesque; it situates her within a specific economic and social context, of rural life and the working class. Van de Laar’s choice to focus on the woman’s solitary figure draws our attention to the often-unseen labor that sustains society. Through his art, Van de Laar invites us to contemplate not just the beauty of the Dutch landscape, but also the lives of those whose labor is intimately connected to it.