Twee mannen met een ladder c. 1856 - 1858

This silver object, made by W. Freen, shows two men holding a ladder. Its small size suggests it was a table ornament. But what can we say about its context? In the Netherlands during the 19th century, silver miniatures were popular as gifts and displayed wealth. This piece, with its everyday subject, departs from traditional aristocratic themes. Its focus on labor hints at the rising importance of the working class. This was a time of industrialization, and growing class consciousness. How would a silver miniature like this function within this society? Is it conservative, memorializing older ways of life that were soon to be forgotten? Or is it progressive, seeking to legitimize labor as a worthy artistic subject? Understanding this piece fully requires research into the artist's patrons, the economic conditions of the time, and the changing role of art in Dutch society. By looking at social and institutional contexts, we can better understand the possible meanings that objects like this had at the time.