Kantmaakster 1768 - 1796

Pieter de Mare created this print called Kantmaakster in the late 18th century, using etching and engraving. During this time, the Dutch Republic was undergoing significant social and economic changes. The print depicts a woman engaged in lacemaking, a common occupation for women during this period. Lacemaking provided women with a means of economic independence, but it was also a labor-intensive and often poorly paid job. The woman’s downcast gaze and the modest interior suggest a life marked by both diligence and constraint. This print offers insight into the gendered division of labor and the economic realities faced by women in 18th-century Dutch society. It reflects societal expectations around femininity, labor, and domesticity. De Mare's image prompts us to consider the lives and experiences of women whose contributions to the economy were often undervalued and overlooked.