Ael Pieter-mans en Bedorve Sloof om 't Geldt 1612 - 1652

This print, made by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum, features two portraits rendered in clear, precise lines. These are not flattering depictions; instead, they are social commentaries reflecting attitudes towards the laboring classes in the Netherlands. During the period, images of the poor and working class were often produced, and widely circulated through prints like this one. They offered a way for the more affluent to define themselves against the supposed vices and moral failings of those lower down the social ladder. The composition, with its neat oval frames, hints at the institutional forces at play. The Rijksmuseum and others maintain collections of prints like this. By preserving and displaying them, these institutions shape how we understand the past and our present. To fully understand this work, we can examine period literature, economic data, and social histories. We can research the lives of people whose appearance resembles these images. Through careful study, we recognize the social and institutional contexts that give this seemingly simple image its true meaning.