Pakezels 1815 - 1860

Abraham Hendrik Winter made this print called “Pack Donkeys” using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The scene seems straightforward: a woman is tending to donkeys carrying containers. Yet, in the context of 19th-century Dutch art, it’s charged with social meaning. The Netherlands had a strong tradition of genre painting, depicting scenes of everyday life, but it was also a time of social and economic upheaval. Artists often used these seemingly mundane subjects to comment on broader social issues. Here, the donkeys, burdened with heavy loads, could symbolize the working class, while the woman's care might suggest a complex relationship between labor and compassion. To fully understand the print, we might delve into Dutch economic history, looking at trade routes, agricultural practices, and the role of animals in labor. By combining visual analysis with historical context, we can unlock the layers of meaning embedded within this humble scene.