Handelsetiket van David Barnaart c. 1681 - 1740

Isaac Vincentsz. van der Vinne created this trade card for David Barnaart using etching, a printmaking technique. The card presents a figure of Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, in a wreath of leaves, surrounded by bales of goods. Consider the use of classical figures to signal sophistication and trustworthiness in early modern trade. This card encapsulates the merging of commerce and cultural aspiration in the Netherlands. Produced in a time of Dutch economic prosperity, the card reflects the importance of trade to the Netherlands' cultural identity. It also provides a glimpse into the marketing strategies employed by merchants in a burgeoning capitalist society. Further research into the Barnaart family, the Dutch trading system, and the symbolic language of trade cards would enrich our understanding of this image and its world. Approaching art in this manner helps us contextualize artworks like this, moving beyond simple aesthetics into the realm of cultural and institutional history.