Rustende ruiter bij herberg 1783

Dirk Jan van der Laan created this drawing called, "Resting Rider at an Inn," using pen in gray ink and brush in gray, sometime in the late 18th to early 19th century. Reflecting on the cultural norms of the time, the drawing offers a glimpse into the gendered roles within Dutch society. The serving woman, offering refreshment to the rider, embodies the domestic roles often assigned to women. Conversely, the rider, presumably a man, occupies a position of mobility and authority. The drawing captures a moment in time that asks us to reflect upon the dynamics of labor and leisure and consider how these differences shape individual experiences and broader social structures. This piece shows an emotional moment of pause during travel, reflecting the way societal roles defined experiences and interactions in the historical landscape.