About this sheet
Traditional Market Day Costumes and Cheese Porters of West Friesland, c.1930
This vibrant original lithograph, dating to around 1930, captures a dynamic and colorful scene of market life in West Friesland, a historic region in the Netherlands. The image depicts five figures dressed in traditional regional costumes: two cheese-porters in their iconic white summer suits and red straw hats, an older woman in black mourning dress, and a younger woman and girl in richly colored attire. This visual documentation reflects the customs as they were still worn on market days in the early 20th century, especially in towns such as Hoorn, once famed for its cheese trade.
The men's costumes follow guild tradition, with color-coded hats—red in this case—signifying their porter group. Their white linen suits, black shoes, and strong physiques suggest the physical nature of their trade, carrying large wooden barrows stacked high with yellow cheeses. Their neutral clothing contrasts beautifully with the ornate regional dress of the women beside them.
The older woman wears the Hollandsche hul, or Dutch hood, evolved from the 18th-century schelpboedje or shell hat. Her black ensemble is of 1840s bourgeois style, featuring a full-sleeved black cashmere gown with flowered silk merino apron. The double-stranded gold kruisje ketting necklace and cross pendant signal her Roman Catholic faith.
The younger woman represents the exquisite full West Frisian costume worn only on Sundays or ceremonial occasions. Her headdress is layered: a fine linen under-cap, handmade lace inner cap, wide gold oorijzer, and elaborate starched black lace crown with goffered wings, requiring a wooden roller to stiffen. Her magenta dress and checked apron, in combination with the milkmaid basket, suggest she is returning from or headed to market.
This illustration is not only beautifully executed with fine color lithography and exquisite detail but also a rich ethnographic record of Dutch provincial life. It was originally produced for an early 20th-century publication documenting traditional Dutch costume by region and occasion.
Very good condition. The colors remain strong and unfaded. Margins are clean with only minimal toning at the edges consistent with age. No tears or foxing. Verso blank.
Framing Tips:
This piece works beautifully in both traditional and modern interiors. A simple light oak or black frame with a cream mat will allow the colors and composition to stand out. Float mounting can showcase the slight deckle edges for added authenticity. Consider UV-protective glass to preserve color vibrancy. Ideal as part of a series or gallery wall celebrating European folk traditions.
Would you like similar listings prepared for Plates X to XIV as well?
