Scanderende boerinnnen met takken met apppels 1815 - 1851

Daniël Veelwaard created this small print, "Scanderende boerinnnen met takken met apppels" (Chanting peasant women with branches with apples), using etching and possibly watercolor. It’s an image made of simple means, printed on paper, with color added by hand. The material qualities are straightforward, yet the effect is lively, showing the women in motion. Look at the way the lines vary in thickness; you can see where Veelwaard bore down on the copper plate with his etching needle. Consider the social context here: the print celebrates both the King and the Nation, reflecting a specific moment in Dutch history. These women, likely imagined rather than observed, are shown celebrating the harvest, a critical aspect of the Dutch economy, where labor was intensive and rural life prevailed. Their wooden shoes and simple dresses speak to their working-class status. By looking closely at the materials and making, we see how this modest print engages with the important themes of labor and national identity, blurring the lines between political statement and folk art.