Straatverkopers c. 1822 - 1849

Curator: This delightful print, dating from approximately 1822 to 1849, is entitled "Straatverkopers," or "Street Vendors." It is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The artist is Jan de (II) Lange. Editor: It strikes me as a narrative frieze of the everyday, yet curiously framed. Eight vignettes, almost like comic panels, but presented with a solemn air. What captures my eye immediately is the rather limited, yet considered, use of colour, with what looks like linework dominant, even if, given the date, I wonder if this is actually from an etching? Curator: Indeed, etching and engraving are among the media listed. Notice how the simple lines define each character and their wares. The composition in each panel is meticulously structured; the figures are centrally located. Observe, also, the palette of faded blues and ochres that bind the whole together. Editor: It’s this combination of restraint and potential that intrigues. One senses a critical perspective, almost a caricature. Considering its socio-historical context, what public message was Jan de Lange seeking to send? Curator: The context is critical. Lange was working during a time of significant social change. We should be paying attention to how he presents these workers, perhaps making statements about social class, or the economics of labour. Editor: Absolutely, I was just thinking the same thing! The repetitive nature, the way these archetypes of profession are regimented across the printing format seems calculated to invoke discussion among a growing middle class as society underwent transformations towards early industrialisation, if that wasn’t there already in Deventer. Curator: What also strikes me, structurally, is how each figure carries and presents something, be it brooms, flowers or fish. The print thereby establishes a visual rhythm and offers insights into commercial culture through a grid format that amplifies meaning and commentary. Editor: For me, focusing on those small compositional units gives insights on how print, particularly popular print, could make very nuanced commentary in a subtle, digestible way, one which seems very prescient in our era, too! Curator: Indeed. A valuable reminder of the layers contained within such an apparently simple work of art. Editor: A potent snapshot into Dutch society, carefully rendered.