Boerin met een emmer c. 1679 - 1701

Frederick Bloemaert produced this print titled 'Boerin met een emmer' – or 'Farmer with a bucket' – in the Netherlands in the 17th century. This seemingly simple image provides a glimpse into the social hierarchy of the time. The focus on a rural subject reflects a broader artistic trend in the Dutch Golden Age, where everyday life became a legitimate subject for art. The detailed rendering of the farmer's attire and tools also speaks volumes about the economic and social realities of rural life during this period. In its time, the image would have been a kind of social record, and perhaps even a commentary on the value of labor. As art historians, we use such images, alongside written records and other cultural artifacts, to better understand the nuances of a society long past. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.