Moeder met kind naast gebroken mast op het strand 1838 - 1863

This lithograph by Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch, whose dates are 1828 to 1887, shows a mother and child beside a broken mast on a beach. Considered in the context of its time, this image speaks volumes about the precariousness of life for working-class families in the Netherlands. The broken mast is a stark reminder of the ever-present dangers faced by seafarers and their loved ones. The mother and child, dwarfed by the vastness of the sea and sky, evoke feelings of vulnerability and resilience. Weissenbruch made this print at a time of increasing social awareness. Artists of his era often focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people, and this image seems to reflect a growing sense of empathy and social responsibility in Dutch society. To fully appreciate the historical significance of this print, we need to consider the socio-economic conditions of the time, delving into the archives of maritime history and studying the literature and art of the period. Only then can we understand the image's full impact and its relevance to contemporary discussions about social justice.