Boerderij met op de voorgrond wassende vrouwen 1771

Hendrik Meijer created this drawing of a farm with women washing in the foreground using pen and brown ink with brush in grey and brown. It's interesting to note that Meijer made this drawing at a time of social and economic change in the Netherlands. During the 18th century, the Dutch Republic was experiencing a decline in its economic power, while other European countries were growing stronger. The art world in the Netherlands was also changing, with new institutions and academies emerging. The image shows the artist's awareness of both classical landscape traditions and the realities of rural life, which would have been affected by such societal shifts. The drawing invites us to consider the role of art in reflecting and shaping social and cultural values during that time. By exploring archival sources, such as letters, diaries, and institutional records, we can gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between art and society in the 18th-century Netherlands.