Het dagelijks werk der dienst-meisjes 1767 - 1793

This print, entitled 'Het dagelijks werk der dienst-meisjes', whose maker is registered as Erven Hendrik van der Putte, uses a series of small, framed images to depict the daily work of maids. It's a fascinating document of a social class, and the expectations placed upon it, at a time when rigid social hierarchies were enforced. Made in the Netherlands, these kinds of images were often produced as part of a larger print culture intended for a wide audience. How might the Dutch mercantile system and its large urban centers have shaped the demand for domestic labor, and how did that, in turn, shape the visual representation of it? Does the representation of the maid critique the social structure of its time, or does it reinforce it? The historian's role is vital here. To understand this image, we might look to conduct in-depth research of the artist, their historical context, and even the families that would have employed maids. By understanding the context, we can better understand the image and its commentary on social norms.