Pieter Harmen Witkamp in zijn studeervertrek en spotprent op de landbouw- en arbeidsenquête 1886

Willem Steelink created this monochromatic print titled 'Pieter Harmen Witkamp in zijn studeervertrek en spotprent op de landbouw- en arbeidsenquête' in 1886. The composition is split into two distinct scenes, each rendered with fine, detailed linework that invites a close visual reading. The upper scene features a man at his desk, deeply engrossed in writing. The lower scene presents a group of figures examining documents, the interplay between them suggesting tension and disagreement. These scenes, though separate, are linked by the linear quality of the printmaking, creating a visual dialogue about labor and politics. Steelink uses the structure of the divided frame to explore the relationship between intellectual labor and physical work, prompting viewers to consider how these different forms of labor are represented and valued. The print functions as a semiotic field, where each element – from the posture of the figures to the documents they handle – contributes to a larger commentary on societal structures and power dynamics.