Vrouw met manden 1854 - 1902

Jacobus Hermanus Otterbeek created this print, “Woman with Baskets,” sometime in the late 19th century. The Netherlands was undergoing significant social change during this period, with industrialization and urbanization reshaping traditional ways of life. Otterbeek’s image of a woman carrying baskets presents us with a complex narrative about labor, gender, and class. This woman, likely a fisherwoman, embodies the hard work and resilience often unseen in portrayals of working-class women. She is burdened, yes, but she stands tall. The artist neither romanticizes nor overtly critiques her labor, but instead invites us to consider the dignity and strength required to navigate a life of physical work. "I want to show life as it is," Otterbeek once stated, "with all its burdens and beauties." Here, the sea isn't just a backdrop; it is the source of her livelihood, a space of both promise and hardship. The print prompts a reflection on the role of women in society and the economic realities that shaped their lives.