This painting has an interesting title that may cause us to wonder. These are the children of fathers who are fishermen. Fishermen are often away for long stretches of time. Where are the boys? Are they out fishing with their fathers? Do only boys go to school? What of these young girls?
It is said that this painting was Fritz von Uhde's experiment with plein air (outdoor) painting. The girls are sitting in what appears to be a little brick-paved courtyard. Except for the girl on the far right, who is mending a sock, the others appear to be just standing or sitting around. Have they been told, "Stand here and don't move until I come back," by the mothers who are hanging out the laundry at the end of the path? Look at the heavy wooden shoes these girls have to drag around. The littlest one in the center looks especially neglected. The only one smiling is the three-year-old at the far end of the group — she has her doll in a little stroller. Have the older girls on the left wall been punished? Or have they been assigned to keep an eye on the others? Are they angry, upset, or sadly disconnected? They seem numb and bored.
Genre painting depicts people as they really are, even when they are poor or life is ugly and difficult. Perhaps Fritz von Uhde was making a statement — that the Christian ideal of the equality of persons had not been achieved in his country. Of course, the art "industry" of the day criticized him for depicting life so honestly. New ideas are always criticized, especially when they disturb consciences.
Zandvoort was originally a quaint fishing village near Amsterdam, Netherlands, Now visitors from all over Europe flock to live on the beach during the summer months.
Looking at this photograph I'm reminded of what Dorothy said to her dog when the tornado dropped them in the land in Oz, "Toto I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
In our longing for a simpler time, we can romanticize poverty. But poverty was (and is) hard and ugly. The girls in von Uhde's painting wouldn't think poverty is just a sweet and simpler time.
