Figuren en bezigheden 1822 - 1849

This broadside, titled "Figuren en bezigheden," was made in Amsterdam by Mindermann & Co. using woodcut and letterpress techniques. The images and text were carved into wooden blocks, inked, and then printed onto paper. This process allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction, making it accessible to a wide audience. The rough, graphic quality of the woodcut lends a certain immediacy to the scenes depicted – vignettes of everyday life, from interactions between men and women to domestic tasks and street scenes. The amount of work that went into the production process reflects the labor involved not only in the making of the print itself, but also in the social roles and occupations it portrays. By focusing on the labor of production and the social context, we can see how this broadside blurs the boundaries between art, craft, and social commentary.