Mand met kool en knoflook 1809 - 1854

Cornelis de Kruyff created this print titled 'Basket with Cabbage and Garlic' in the early 19th century. During this period, Europe was undergoing significant social and economic changes, shifting towards industrialization and witnessing the rise of a merchant class. De Kruyff's detailed depiction of everyday objects reflects the values of Dutch society. The overflowing basket suggests not only abundance, but also the labor required to produce this bounty, though this labor is conspicuously absent from the image. It prompts us to consider the hands that harvested these goods and brought them to market. How were women and laborers involved in food production represented, or not represented, in the art of this period? 'Basket with Cabbage and Garlic' isn't merely a still life; it invites reflection on the broader social fabric and the narratives of those often unseen.