Tuinierend gezelschap 1873

Wilhelmus Petrus van Geldorp created this artwork, "Tuinierend gezelschap," as an ornamental design sometime in the 19th century. The detailed drawing depicts a family tending to their garden. In the mid-1800s, the Netherlands saw significant social and economic changes, with shifts from agrarian to more industrial economies. Geldorp's rendering of the family might romanticize rural life in the face of these changes, reflecting a desire to preserve certain traditions. Note the clear distinctions in labor and roles portrayed. The men are actively working the land, while the woman stands with the children, watching. These gendered divisions of labor were typical and suggest the artist's acceptance of traditional social structures. The detailed rendering of the garden, framed by an elaborate ornamental design, perhaps points to the artist’s investment in portraying an idealized, well-ordered world. The image evokes a sense of nostalgia, and presents a carefully constructed tableau of family and labor.