Marketentster van het Korps Jagers 1835 - 1850

Albertus Verhoesen made this print of a marketentster—a woman selling provisions to soldiers—using etching and engraving techniques. These processes involve incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper, transferring the image. The texture of the paper is crucial here. The fine lines capture the details of the woman's clothing, from the dark green of her dress to the crisp white of her apron. The use of color, though minimal, adds depth, highlighting the yellow emblem on her beverage carrier. The image is a testament to the skilled labor involved in both the creation of the print itself and the depiction of the marketentster's role in supporting the troops. Consider the social context: while the soldiers fought, it was often women who sustained them with food and drink. This print, made with meticulous craftsmanship, acknowledges the vital work performed by those often overlooked in grand narratives of war. It reminds us that art and life are inextricably linked, challenging the traditional hierarchy between fine art and everyday existence.