Wagen met melkflessen op een brug 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this sketch of a milk cart on a bridge with pencil on paper. Vreedenburgh lived through both World Wars and was part of a generation that witnessed immense societal changes. This drawing gives us a glimpse into the daily lives of ordinary people during a time of great transformation in Europe. The milk cart is a symbol of sustenance, and a reminder of the labor involved in providing for communities. Who was responsible for this labor? What was their gender and class? Think about the gendered division of labor, in which women were often responsible for tasks associated with care and sustenance. "I strive to capture the essence of the Dutch landscape and its people," Vreedenburgh once said. As you observe the milk cart making its way across the bridge, consider the intersections of labor, care, and survival in times of upheaval.