De messenslijper 1743 - 1803

"De messenslijper" (The Knife Grinder), an etching by Giovanni Volpato (1732-1803), depicts a man sharpening a knife on a grindstone while a boy stands nearby. The scene is set in a simple workshop, with various tools scattered around, adding to the realism of the everyday work depicted. The etching, created between 1743 and 1803, highlights the meticulous detail and skillful execution of Volpato's work, a characteristic of his engravings. The piece is currently housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.