Het boereleven (II) 1875 - 1903

This is a lithograph titled "Het boereleven (II)" made by Jan de Haan. It's a print that gives us a window into rural Dutch life, likely from the 19th century, judging by the clothing and technology depicted. What interests me here is how this image creates meaning through its visual encoding of labor. We see idealized scenes of agricultural work: milking cows, churning butter, tending to sheep, and selling cheese at market. The artist presents an ordered vision of country life, where everyone has their role and purpose. This image could have served to reinforce social norms by depicting traditional gender roles in rural activities. Now, why this particular selection of imagery? Was it made for an urban audience, nostalgic for a disappearing way of life? Or was it intended for children, as the words on the image suggest? Perhaps to instill a sense of national identity rooted in the countryside? These are the kinds of questions we can explore through further research into the print's production and reception, considering the economic and social transformations that were occurring in the Netherlands at the time.