Vijf mannen aan het werk in een touwslagerij c. 1825 - 1845

F. Ricquier’s print depicts five men working in a ropery, a scene that offers a glimpse into the industrial landscape of its time. The print is inscribed with the words, ‘rope maker’ in three languages, suggesting that it was made in a cosmopolitan port city such as Amsterdam or Antwerp. The image is fascinating for what it shows, and doesn’t show. It illustrates the division of labor within the rope-making process. The men appear to be working in harmony, but the print refrains from showing how wealth created by their labor is distributed. The print offers a commentary on the social structures of its time. It acknowledges the importance of industry while omitting the social cost of such progress. To gain a deeper understanding, scholars consult archival documents and period literature. This approach allows us to appreciate art as something deeply embedded in social and institutional contexts.