Vrouw met rood vest en wit lint in het haar 1766 - 1815

Jacob van Strij painted this watercolor of a woman with a red vest and white ribbon in her hair in the late 18th or early 19th century in the Netherlands. Van Strij came of age during a period of significant social and political change. His artistic focus on everyday life reflects the broader Enlightenment-era interest in humanism and the individual. In this painting, class is subtly communicated through her attire. Her clothing suggests she is not wealthy, but is neatly dressed. Her gaze is cast downward, perhaps hinting at the limited opportunities afforded to women of her class. The intimate scale of the watercolor invites us to consider the individual stories of those who might otherwise be overlooked in grand historical narratives. Van Strij's work offers an emotional connection to the past. It is an opportunity to reflect on the varied experiences of women in the late 18th and early 19th century Netherlands.