Melkmeid 1688 - 1724

"Melkmeid" is a print created between 1688 and 1724 by Dutch artist Jacob Gole. This etching depicts a woman carrying a heavy stack of milk jugs balanced on her head. The detail of her clothing, the precise arrangement of the jugs, and the inscription "Allegra Contadinella" ("Cheerful Peasant Woman") suggest that the print is part of a larger series. Jacob Gole is known for his depictions of everyday life, making this piece a window into the work of milkmaids in 17th-century Holland. The print, which is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, is an example of the genre of "genre painting" and would have been accessible to the public of the time.