Wilt gij van mij wat huisraad koopen? / Zoo hoeft gij bij geen buur te loopen 1848 - 1881

This print of household objects was made in the Netherlands by Lutkie & Cranenburg, though the exact date remains unknown. As the title suggests—"Do you want to buy some furniture from me? Then you don't have to go to the neighbors"—the print most likely served as an advertisement. What can this seemingly mundane image tell us? For one, it's a glimpse into the material culture of the Dutch middle class. We see a variety of objects, from tables and chairs to kettles and coffee grinders, neatly arranged in rows. The image’s claim of convenience speaks to the rise of consumer culture and marketing, yet we see a reluctance for this to totally take hold. We are reminded of our neighbors and the social structures of borrowing. To fully understand this print, one could investigate Dutch trade and manufacturing, as well as the history of advertising and consumerism. By placing this image within its historical context, we can see how even the most ordinary objects can reveal the social and economic forces that shape our lives.