Mattenvlechter c. 1688 - 1724

Jacob Gole made this print, Mattenvlechter, in the Netherlands in the late 17th or early 18th century using etching. It depicts an itinerant chair caner complete with his tools. Images like this one provide a window into the economic and social life of the Dutch Republic, revealing the everyday realities of labor and trade. Notice the way the chair caner is dressed. While his clothing is functional, it also suggests a certain level of respectability and professionalism. He's not a beggar or a vagrant, but a skilled worker offering a valuable service. Prints like this one were often produced for a growing urban market. They catered to the interests of a middle class eager to learn more about the world around them. Art historians can use sources like city records and guild documents to understand the social position of the chair caner, and the market for his craft. The image reminds us that art is always embedded in a specific time and place, shaped by the social and economic forces of its day.