Oogst van het koren 1847 - 1889

This is William Unger’s etching, "Oogst van het koren" or “Harvest of the Corn,” currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. Unger, who lived from 1837 to 1932, witnessed significant social and economic shifts, especially the growth of industrialization and its impact on rural life. Here, we see laborers gathering the harvest. What does it mean to capture the emotional and physical experience of work during this period? The labourer’s toil contrasts with the burgeoning factories in urban centers. Unger’s choice to depict this scene invites us to consider the human cost of progress and the lives often overlooked in narratives of industrial advancement. Consider the composition: a low horizon line emphasizes the vastness of the landscape and the relative smallness of the figures. This might reflect a sense of human vulnerability and the precariousness of existence tied to the land. The image resonates with a quiet dignity, reminding us of the value of hard work and the deep connection between people and the land.