A detailed etching by Pieter van den Berge depicting a traditional milkmaid from the Waterland region of the Netherlands, complete with her wooden yoke and buckets.

This etching by Pieter van den Berge depicts a milkmaid from the Waterland region of the Netherlands. The artist, active in Amsterdam during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, captures the subject in a formalised pose that emphasises her traditional attire and the tools of her trade. She carries a wooden yoke across her shoulders, supporting two large buckets filled with milk, a common sight in the rural areas surrounding Amsterdam at the time.

The composition is structured with a clear focus on the figure, who stands centrally against a simplified background featuring a modest farmhouse and trees. Van den Berge uses precise hatching and cross-hatching techniques to define the textures of the milkmaid's clothing, the wooden grain of the buckets, and the soft light of the rural setting. Her cap, bodice, and full skirt are rendered with attention to the specific fashion of the Waterland district, providing a visual record of regional dress.

Prints of this nature were often produced to document local customs and regional identities for a contemporary audience. The inclusion of the French title, Une Laitiere de Waterland, suggests an interest in circulating these images beyond the Dutch Republic. The work reflects the period's interest in genre subjects, where the daily activities of common people were elevated to the status of artistic study. The clean lines and balanced composition demonstrate the technical proficiency of van den Berge, who was known for his work as both a draughtsman and an engraver. This print offers a glimpse into the social history of the Netherlands, documenting the role of the milkmaid within the agricultural economy of the region.