Maid feeding pigs c. 1896

Fritz Boehle made this print of a maid feeding pigs sometime around the turn of the twentieth century. The image is rendered in a style reminiscent of earlier German folk art. Boehle, who was associated with several artists' colonies, portrays the rural life of the working class, specifically, the labor of women. The social hierarchy is apparent, the maid's labor directly supports the livestock, which in turn sustains the farm and its owners. Boehle's decision to focus on such a subject reflects a broader interest in the lives of ordinary people. This was a common theme in the art and literature of the period. To fully understand Boehle's print, scholars might research the social and economic conditions of rural Germany at the turn of the century, including the role of women in agriculture. This artwork provides insight into the social structure of its time. The study of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.