Schoenmaker in een werkplaats voor zijn huis 1671 - 1900

Adriaen van Ostade made this etching of a shoemaker in his workshop in the Dutch Republic sometime in the 17th century. The image presents a glimpse into the domestic life and trades of the working class. We see the shoemaker and his apprentice at labor, while a dog sleeps peacefully on the workshop roof. The setting is humble, but it's also orderly, perhaps reflecting the virtues of hard work and simple living that were so important in the Dutch Golden Age. Van Ostade's choice of subject matter and his detailed rendering of everyday life also reflect the growing importance of the merchant class, who sought images that represented their own values and experiences. Prints like these were circulated among a wide public. By studying such images, and the social history of the print market, we can better understand the values and aspirations of ordinary people in the Dutch Republic.