The rat catcher after 1632

This etching, titled 'The Rat Catcher', was created by an anonymous artist. What stories might be embedded in this image of a rat catcher, a figure often on the margins of society? The rat catcher, rendered with a mix of weariness and resilience, stands before us, his tools of trade – the pole with a cage – symbols of his grim profession. The setting, a humble dwelling, suggests a world where survival is a daily struggle. In past societies, those who dealt with vermin were often outcasts, their work necessary yet distasteful. How does this impact the figure's identity and interactions? What does it say about class, labor, and the value placed on different forms of work? 'The Rat Catcher' prompts us to reflect on the lives of those whose labor is essential but often unacknowledged, inviting us to consider the dignity and stories of individuals on the periphery.