Meisje bij een waterpomp 1842 - 1896

Kornelis Jzn de Wijs created this etching of 'Girl by a Water Pump' in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century. This image offers a glimpse into Dutch rural life. The young girl and the water pump suggest themes of labor and sustenance, which were central to the culture and economy of the Netherlands. Consider the role of women in Dutch society at the time, particularly in rural communities. What kind of expectations and opportunities were available to them? Water was both a life-giving resource and a constant threat in the low-lying Netherlands. The water pump may allude to innovations in water management that shaped the Dutch landscape and national identity. Was this image intended to idealize country life, or to reflect on the realities of rural existence? By exploring the social history of the Netherlands in the 1800s, we can discover the historical meanings of this seemingly simple scene.