Boerenvrouw met twee manden aan een juk Possibly 1772 - 1833

Mathias de Sallieth created this print of a peasant woman with two baskets in the late 18th century, using etching and possibly some hand-coloring. The woven baskets are of particular interest. Basketry is a very ancient technology, predating even pottery in many cultures. Here, the baskets serve as a powerful symbol of labor and class. The woman's posture, with her hand on her hip, suggests resilience, but the weight of the yoke and baskets is undeniable. The etcher has also rendered other materials, like the wood of the yoke, the fabric of her clothing, and even her wooden shoes. These details add to the overall effect, emphasizing the contrast between the laboring class and the more privileged consumers of such images. Sallieth's choice to depict this woman with dignity elevates her status, and invites the viewer to consider the social and economic realities of the time. It challenges any simple distinction between fine art and the more humble realities of craft and labor.