Boerenwoning aan een vaart 1842 - 1898

Johan Frederik Croockewit made this etching of a farm by a canal sometime in the 19th century. This piece provides a glimpse into the Dutch countryside, a world that, even then, was on the cusp of immense change due to industrialization. The thatched-roof house sits humbly by the water, a small boat resting at its bank, all rendered in precise detail. Note the figure by the water, seemingly caught in a moment of domestic labor, perhaps washing clothes. Croockewit invites us to consider the lives of the rural working class and their connection to the land and waterways. The details encourage us to think about the intersections of labor, landscape, and identity in the 19th-century Netherlands. This piece is a reminder of the intimate relationship between people and their environment. It invites reflection on how progress and development affect the lives and livelihoods of those most connected to the land.