Gezicht op oude huizen te Leiden 1838 - 1887

Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch created this print, "View of old houses in Leiden," using etching techniques. Weissenbruch, who lived from 1828 to 1887, situated himself within the Hague School, a group of Dutch artists who embraced realism. This piece invites us to consider the lives of the women depicted. Are they residents or merely passersby? The woman in the doorway seems to look out onto her community, while the other, burdened with a heavy jug, seems to be performing more laborious work. Note the architecture. The wear and tear on the buildings suggests the passage of time and the endurance of daily life. The scene could be interpreted as a commentary on the social fabric of 19th-century Dutch society, with its emphasis on domesticity and the roles of women within it. Weissenbruch’s choice to focus on this subject matter invites reflection on the everyday experiences that constitute history.