Zittende boerin met de voeten op een stoof before 1817

Balthasar Paul Ommeganck sketched this drawing of a seated farmer’s wife with graphite on paper. Created in the Netherlands, it captures a moment of domestic life, depicting a woman resting with her feet on a foot stove, a common household item used to keep warm. The drawing provides a glimpse into the daily life and social conditions of the rural population during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Ommeganck, known for his landscape and animal paintings, here turns his attention to the everyday life of a common woman. This focus reflects a broader interest during this period in depicting the lives of ordinary people, moving away from solely portraying the elite. To fully understand this work, historians might delve into the economic structures of the time, examining the role of women in rural households and the impact of agricultural practices on daily life. This drawing serves as a valuable historical document, offering insight into the social fabric of the Netherlands during a transformative period.