Mijnarbeider met bloot bovenlijf 1895 - 1943

Pieter de Josselin de Jong created this etching, titled *Mijnarbeider met bloot bovenlijf,* which translates to *Mine worker with bare torso,* sometime in the late 19th century. During this era, the Netherlands experienced rapid industrialization, with mining playing a crucial role. De Jong's stark portrayal captures the sheer physicality and isolation of the mine worker. Stripped to the waist, he embodies the raw, masculine labor that fueled the economy. The intense contrast between light and shadow not only emphasizes the darkness of the mine, but throws into relief the human form and the sheer force involved in the mining process. Although the labor is ennobled, it also shows the sacrifice, the risk, and the relentless demands of the industry on working-class bodies. Consider how images like this both celebrated and perhaps obscured the lived realities of those whose toil powered progress.