Bukkende vrouwen, mogelijk wasvrouwen c. 1880 - 1906

This is a charcoal sketch of bending women, possibly washerwomen, by George Hendrik Breitner. Breitner worked during a time when rapid industrialization and urbanization were reshaping European cities and societies. In this sketch, the bending figures of the women evoke a sense of labor and toil. Their posture suggests a life of physical work, possibly framed by economic necessity. As a Dutchman, Breitner would have been aware of the strict class divisions that dictated the lives of women in the workforce. The medium of charcoal is important here. The starkness of the charcoal captures the somber realities of the working class, and marks a shift from romanticizing poverty to representing it with a raw and unvarnished authenticity. The artist neither condemns nor celebrates their circumstances, but rather invites the viewer to recognize their humanity. It’s a poignant reflection on labor, class, and the everyday lives of women in a rapidly changing world.