The rat catcher after 1632

This etching, made by an anonymous artist, depicts a rat catcher. During the early modern period, vermin control was essential for public health, yet it relegated rat catchers to the margins of society. They were regarded with suspicion because they handled disease-ridden creatures. Here, we witness a transaction between the rat catcher and a family. The exchange, set against the backdrop of what appears to be a modest home, underscores the intersection of class and labor. The rat catcher, identifiable by his tools and the dead rodents, is a figure of both necessity and repulsion. His presence evokes questions of hygiene, class distinctions, and the roles assigned to individuals based on their occupations. The family’s cautious interaction hints at the social barriers and biases inherent in such exchanges. This image reflects broader societal attitudes towards labor, class, and the uncomfortable realities of everyday life. The rat catcher's marginal status reminds us to consider who is valued and who is dismissed in society.