De rattenvanger van Hamelen 1828 - 1937

This print, titled "De rattenvanger van Hamelen", which translates to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, was made by Oehmigke & Riemschneider. It's a lithograph, a process that involves drawing an image on a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then applying ink which adheres only to the drawn areas. Notice how the crisp lines and flat areas of color create a graphic quality, ideally suited for mass production. This wasn't fine art in the traditional sense, but rather a printed sheet meant for popular consumption. The story of the Pied Piper, who rids a town of rats only to be denied payment, speaks to issues of labor and class. The townspeople, representing the bourgeoisie, fail to uphold their end of the bargain with the working-class piper, highlighting a tension between those who commission work and those who perform it. Understanding the material and process through which this image was created allows us to see it not just as a picture, but as a product of its time, deeply connected to social and economic realities.