Gelderse boer en boerin after 1803

J. Enklaar created this watercolor drawing entitled "Gelderse boer en boerin" depicting a farmer and his wife from Gelderland in the Netherlands. This image encapsulates 18th-century Dutch society and its visual codes. The clothing reflects regional identities and social class. The bright, varied stripes of the woman's skirt, combined with her large hat, scarf, and apron, emphasize the rural, 'folk' identity of the sitters. The image's context is also essential. The Netherlands in this period was a republic, and while it had a strong merchant class, life in the countryside went on as it always had. Images such as this were important in defining Dutch society. The creation of images such as this one helped to create a sense of national identity. As historians, we can access archives of fashion, economic data, and regional histories to understand the social context that influenced Enklaar's artistic choices. It helps us to better understand the meaning of art as something that is contingent on social and institutional context.