Boerinnetje met muts 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth created this pencil drawing, "Boerinnetje met muts", whose title translates to "Little farmer girl with bonnet," during a time when the Netherlands was experiencing significant social and economic changes. Veth, deeply engaged with the cultural and political issues of his time, captures the profile of a young woman, likely from a rural background, wearing a traditional bonnet. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a growing interest in regional identities and traditions amidst modernization. The detailed attention to her headwear— a marker of her identity and social status—speaks to Veth's interest in the lives of ordinary people. The drawing's intimate scale and delicate lines invite viewers to reflect on the everyday lives of women in rural communities, offering a glimpse into a specific cultural context and the personal stories embedded within it. It prompts us to consider how representations of identity are shaped by cultural practices and individual experiences.