Hemelbed met vaas 1772 - 1779

Nicolas Dupin created this print of a "Hemelbed met vaas" or four-poster bed in 1784 using etching, a printmaking technique that allows for fine, detailed lines. The image captures a fashionable bed design, showcasing the textiles used for the canopy, bed frame, and cushions. Fabric would have been central to the experience of this object. Consider the labor that went into the production of these textiles, from growing flax or cotton, to spinning, weaving, dyeing, and printing the fabric. Each step was labor-intensive, contributing to the bed’s high value. Even the most basic of these beds would have involved skilled work and a lot of time. This print offers a glimpse into the material culture of the late 18th century, where design and craftsmanship intertwined with global economies of labor and production. It reminds us that even seemingly simple objects carry complex histories of making and consumption.