Vrouw met jurk zittend in grasveld 1915

Simon Moulijn made this print of a woman in a dress sitting in a field using etching. The woman is at rest, but what does it mean to show a woman at rest in this way? Prints were crucial for distributing images in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Netherlands was experiencing a period of social and artistic change, with debates swirling around women's roles and rights. The ‘new woman’ was emerging as a figure in art and literature. Was she a threat or a sign of progress? By using this method, Moulijn opens it up to a wider audience outside the traditional art establishment. To fully understand this artwork, one needs to delve into the social and cultural context of the Netherlands at the time. We need to look at periodicals, literature, and other visual materials.