Klederdracht van Drenthe, 1857 1857

Ruurt de Vries made this print titled "Klederdracht van Drenthe" in 1857. It depicts traditional clothing from the Dutch province of Drenthe. In the 19th century, there was a growing interest in local and regional cultures. Images like this were often commissioned by institutions like museums or historical societies to document and preserve what was seen as a disappearing way of life due to industrialization and urbanization. This print serves as a visual record of Drenthe's rural past, but it also reflects the power dynamics of the time. Consider who had the authority to define and represent these cultural traditions and how that might affect the way people thought about the region. To gain a deeper understanding of this print, we can research the history of Drenthe, study the cultural and economic conditions that shaped its regional identity, and examine the role of institutions like the Rijksmuseum in shaping national narratives.