Tikketik! de hoep om 't vat geslagen! [(...)] 1861 - 1929

Editor: We’re looking at "Tikketik! de hoep om 't vat geslagen! [...]" a print from between 1861 and 1929, housed at the Rijksmuseum, and attributed to Albertus Willem Sijthoff. It looks like a collection of scenes depicting different tradesmen in action. It's got an almost storybook feel, even though the people don't seem to be interacting. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this through a materialist lens. Note how the production itself – the printing process, the creation of multiple images – makes it accessible to a wide audience, likely children as indicated by 'Kinderprenten' (children's prints). The choice of graphic art and print mediums isn't arbitrary. How does this repetitive imagery mirror the repetitive nature of labor in the scenes themselves? Editor: That's a great point. It’s almost like the production mimics the labor depicted. I didn't notice that! Curator: Exactly. And consider the socio-economic implications of mass-produced art like this. It moves away from the notion of the unique, singular artwork and delves into affordability and consumption. What do the scenes themselves, the barrel maker, the watchman etc., tell us about the social hierarchy and the value placed on different types of labor at that time? Editor: Well, they all seem pretty vital for everyday life… It makes me think about who got represented and who didn’t. Curator: Precisely! Whose stories are deemed worthy of printing and circulation? That decision in itself reflects existing power structures. By examining the materials and the means of production, we gain insight into the societal values and the division of labor inherent in this seemingly simple image. It questions traditional notions of “high art.” Any thoughts? Editor: Absolutely, considering the piece as a product of its time and the choices made in its creation gives it so much more depth than just a series of cute pictures!