March 1772

"March" is a pen and watercolor wash on paper, made by Hendrik Meijer in the late 18th century. Meijer lived during a period of significant social and economic change in the Netherlands, when debates about national identity and the role of labor were becoming more prevalent. This artwork, depicting agricultural laborers, exists within a complex history of representing rural life. The laborers appear weary yet are captured here as the embodiment of simple virtues and connection to the land. The division of labor within the scene might suggest elements of the economic structure, and invites reflection on the lives of those who toiled in the fields. There's a tension between the aestheticization of labor and the lived experiences of these individuals. "March" invites us to reflect on the realities of labor, the beauty of landscape, and how identity can be shaped by the land we inhabit.