Schovenbindsters 1871 - 1906

Pieter de Josselin de Jong created "Schovenbindsters," a pencil drawing, capturing a glimpse into the lives of women laborers. During the late 19th century, rapid industrialization shifted traditional agricultural roles and expectations of women. De Jong’s sketch depicts two women bent over, deeply engrossed in binding sheaves, their postures reflecting the physical demands of rural labor. They are faceless, which removes individuality and prompts questions about class and gender. The labor they perform is often invisible in history, deemed domestic or not worthy of documentation. They are placed within the context of a shifting Dutch countryside at the turn of the century. It prompts reflection on whose stories are told and whose are left out. This drawing serves as a poignant reminder of the laboring women whose contributions are often overlooked.