Cattle by a Watering Place 1645 - 1670

Jacob Weyer painted 'Cattle by a Watering Place', now in the SMK collection, during the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Netherlands was a major economic and cultural power. Here, we find a pastoral scene, but it's not just about the pretty landscape. It's about the social structure of the time. The painting depicts farm workers, likely women, tending to cattle. This was a period when gender roles were clearly defined, and rural labor was often the domain of women and children. The cattle themselves were symbols of wealth and prosperity for the Dutch Republic. Weyer doesn't necessarily challenge these social norms. Instead, he captures a moment in the everyday lives of working people. There’s a certain calm and quietude, but also an undeniable sense of labor. The painting subtly highlights the class dynamics of the time. The figures are part of the landscape, essential to the Dutch economy, yet also somewhat anonymous. In its quiet way, 'Cattle by a Watering Place' invites us to reflect on the lives of those whose labor built the Dutch Golden Age.