Haags dienstmeisje 1775

This watercolor of a cleaning woman was made by Paulus Constantijn la Fargue, probably in The Hague, around 1775. The image, though small, gives us a vivid sense of the materials at play. Consider the contrast between the woman's clothing and the tools of her trade. The broom, bucket, and even the cobblestones under her feet are all rough, commonplace materials. The bristles of the broom are bound tightly but worn from use, while the bucket is made of roughly hewn wood, its staves held together by simple metal hoops. These are the objects of labor, designed for practicality rather than beauty. In contrast, the maid's patterned jacket and voluminous skirt, rendered with delicate brushwork, suggest a higher level of craft and care. This contrast isn't just visual; it speaks to the social divide between those who perform manual labor and those who benefit from it. La Fargue's choice of watercolor, a medium often associated with delicate landscapes and portraiture, adds another layer of complexity, elevating the humble subject of a working woman to the realm of fine art.