Beroepen c. 1850 - 1900

Editor: We're looking at "Beroepen" (Occupations), a watercolor print by Pellerin & Cie, dating from somewhere around 1850 to 1900. What strikes me immediately is how neatly organized it is, like a charming infographic. All those miniature people, each enacting their daily tasks…it's strangely compelling. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, "Les Petits Métiers de Paris!" What I see is a whole world condensed onto a single page! Can you imagine wandering the 19th-century streets of Paris, encountering these very people? Each tiny figure represents a specific trade or service. Think of it as a social catalog, a snapshot of urban life, capturing those everyday heroes and forgotten trades. What story does it whisper to you? Editor: It whispers of hustle and bustle, of ordinary people carving out a living. It also highlights, maybe unintentionally, how specialized labour was, even then. The watercolours, they have faded to near-pastel shades. How does that inform your perspective? Curator: Precisely! And the faded colours only enhance the sense of time passed. It evokes a nostalgic longing. Imagine the skill required to render each character so distinctly, and consider what the artist wishes to highlight about these 'small jobs.' Does it romanticise poverty, I wonder? Editor: That's an excellent point! There's certainly a distance, a lack of dirt or sweat that maybe flattens their stories somewhat, despite the attempt to record them. The idealized aspect to the watercolor work could contribute to it too. Curator: True. These images, while depicting common trades, may also have been created for a wealthier audience, offering a glimpse into the lives of the working class while subtly maintaining a social distance. I imagine that adds another layer of cultural reflection. It also reminds me of shadow puppets, each scene cast for an audience. What a fun thing it must have been to capture all these characters. Editor: I love that image, of shadow puppets! It gives a performative quality to their labour, visible for others. Thank you, this changed my view completely. Curator: And your insights are also greatly illuminating! Thank you, it changed mine too.