Alderley soort van ambagten ziet gy hier / Elk bezonder toond zyn konsten na de zwier 1725 - 1780

Curator: Here we have an engraving, "Alderley soort van ambagten ziet gy hier / Elk bezonder toond zyn konsten na de zwier", created sometime between 1725 and 1780 by Johannes (II) Kannewet. It’s a fascinating example of Dutch Golden Age printmaking currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What are your first impressions? Editor: My goodness, it looks like a comic strip about…everything? It's like a visual encyclopedia of trades, all crammed together. Kind of dizzying but wonderfully so! Curator: Yes, the composition is rather unique. The artist presents us with a series of small, framed vignettes. Each depicts a different craft or trade. Note the careful attention to detail in each scene. We can appreciate the mastery in translating such intricate activity into engraving. It’s essentially a typological overview. Editor: Intricate is definitely the word! I'm zooming in on the baker shoving a loaf into his oven, and then right next to him, some dude is meticulously shaving someone's face. And each little picture has a little description on it as well! It feels like walking through a really bustling, organized town square. What do you make of its placement within the Dutch Golden Age? Curator: During this period, genre painting flourished, capturing everyday life with meticulous detail and symbolic nuance. Kannewet’s print builds upon this tradition, systematizing trades as worthy subjects of artistic attention, and reflects broader social interests in categorizing and understanding the burgeoning Dutch economy of the time. Editor: Absolutely, and each tradesperson's labor feels not just functional but deeply dignified. Look at the archer – he isn’t just practicing archery, but representing a skill, an art, that’s been passed down through generations. There is such clear pride visible. It has me longing for the days of simpler forms of working the land and simple artistry. Curator: It is certainly evocative. As we look at this piece, we observe Kannewet's sophisticated engraving skills, documenting social practice and offering insights into Baroque sensibilities through form and content. Editor: I'm completely charmed by it and ready to go try and make my own barrel, badly. This has been delightful!