Ambachten en beroepen c. 1822 - 1849

This print, "Ambachten en beroepen," by Alexander Cranendoncq, presents a structured array of twelve vignettes. The monochromatic palette, rendered in ink on paper, limits the visual experience to a study of form and composition. Each scene, encased in a rectangular frame, depicts a different trade or profession. The consistency in the use of line and shading creates a grid-like structure, which is a sort of commentary on the rigid social order of the time, categorizing individuals by their occupations. This system organizes society into discrete, manageable units. The lack of color directs our attention to the details within each frame – the tools, the gestures, the interactions – and asks us to consider how these elements define each occupation. Cranendoncq’s print encourages a structural reading of society itself. The print implies that society is built upon a network of interconnected roles, each contributing to the larger whole.