Zeilboten op een rivier, op de dijk staat een man te maaien 1847 - 1909

Edgar Alfred Baes created this print, "Zeilboten op een rivier, op de dijk staat een man te maaien," which translates to "Sailboats on a river, with a man mowing on the dike." Created during a time of significant social change, Baes's work invites us to consider the relationship between labor and leisure, and how those concepts were changing in the 19th century. The presence of the working man becomes a quiet focal point, set against the backdrop of leisure sailing. There’s a stillness in the scene. The image subtly hints at the economic structures that support leisure, and the labor required to maintain the picturesque landscapes. This piece offers a glimpse into the world of 19th-century Belgium, where the rise of industrialization and the growth of the middle class began to intersect with traditional rural life. The print might be viewed as a commentary on these shifts, capturing a moment of transition as society grappled with evolving identities and class dynamics.