Koopvrouw belt aan 1838 - 1863

Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch created this print, "Koopvrouw belt aan" - or "Shopkeeper Ringing", in the Netherlands. This print offers insight into the economic and social dynamics of 19th-century Dutch society. The image depicts a female shopkeeper calling at a doorway, perhaps selling her wares door-to-door. The scene is a glimpse into the lives of working-class women and the informal economies that sustained many households. Consider the role of women in the economy at this time, and the ways in which they navigated social structures to make a living. Did the artwork comment on the changing social and economic roles of women? Studying archival records, such as census data and trade directories, could give further understanding of the social conditions that shaped Weissenbruch’s art. We can see the way the artist captured a moment in time, reflecting on the social and institutional contexts that gave it meaning.