Coba Ritsema was born and raised in Haarlem. She had a studio here until 1899, where she would paint everyday scenes around her, including the famous Haarlem ‘hofjes’, or yards – in this case the Hofje van Bakenes. It has existed since 1395, and is the oldest such yard in the Netherlands. The houses around the yards were intended for poor, unmarried women. Both the yard and the water pump still exist to this day.