Vrouw met manden op de rug 1784 - 1848

This etching, "Woman with baskets on her back", was made by Otto Baron Howen, likely in the Netherlands during the late 18th or early 19th century. The image presents a woman burdened with two large baskets, suggesting the labor and perhaps the lower social standing of the figure. The composition might speak to the economic structures of the time, where manual labor was a common fate, particularly for women. Howen, as a Baron, likely occupied a privileged position within this society. The Rijksmuseum, where this piece is housed, plays a key role in shaping how we view Dutch history and culture. By exhibiting this work, the museum invites us to consider the lives of ordinary people alongside more celebrated historical figures. To fully understand this image, we might delve into records of daily life and work practices from that era. By researching the economic conditions of the Netherlands at the time, we can see how Howen's artwork prompts questions about class, labor, and representation.