Kuiper aan het werk in zijn werkplaats 1878

Piet Verhaert created this etching, titled "Kuiper aan het werk in zijn werkplaats," capturing a cooper at work in his workshop. The cooper, diligently crafting a barrel, is the key figure. The barrel, a vessel, transcends its function as a mere container. It is a symbol of containment, protection, and preservation, echoing the ancient amphorae. The cooper himself is an interesting image - we can trace it back to Vulcan, god of fire and metalworking. His tools mirror the implements of blacksmiths from antiquity. Just as Vulcan shaped the arms for gods and heroes, the cooper molds the wooden staves. The image resonates with the timeless human impulse to create and safeguard resources. It reminds us that even the simplest tools and crafts are imbued with a history. The creation of a barrel reflects our enduring pursuit of preservation and order, a cycle of innovation and adaptation that continues to shape our world.