Vrouw, mogelijk een wasvrouw, bij een mand of ton 1881 - 1883

George Hendrik Breitner made this sketch, titled *Vrouw, mogelijk een wasvrouw, bij een mand of ton,* on paper, capturing a woman, possibly a laundress, next to a basket or tub. Breitner worked in a time when rapid industrialization and urbanization created stark class divisions. The image offers a glimpse into the lives of working-class women, who often toiled in physically demanding and undervalued jobs. The sketchiness almost feels like it acknowledges a life on the margins, where labor is often unseen. Breitner himself was interested in capturing the daily life of Amsterdam, especially the lives of its working class. In its quiet way, this drawing evokes a sense of empathy and recognition for the individuals whose labor shaped the social fabric of the Netherlands. This piece reflects on the complex relationship between the artist, his subjects, and the viewers and invites us to consider the stories embedded in the seemingly ordinary moments of daily life.