Pleasures of Occupation 1610 - 1684

Cornelis Bloemaert created this print, “Pleasures of Occupation,” sometime in the 17th century. It’s made using the intaglio process, where lines are incised into a metal plate, and then filled with ink to make a print. The image shows two figures, apparently peasants, relaxing with their dog outside their modest cottage. The intaglio technique lends itself well to the depiction of textures. Look at the parallel lines used to model the forms. Notice how they create volume and shadow. Bloemaert uses these simple hatch marks to describe everything from rough cloth, to flesh, to the thatch roof. Intaglio printing was an important technology. It allowed images to be disseminated widely. The subject matter here is interesting. It presents a romantic view of the working class, and idealizes the simplicity of peasant life. This kind of imagery was very popular with the wealthy who acquired these prints, in a way, they were consuming an idea of leisure. So, in the end, this modest print tells us a lot about labor, class, and consumption in its own time.