Kabinet met schilderijen en Chinees porselein before 1800

This print shows a fictional ‘cabinet’ room, filled with paintings and porcelain, and was made by an anonymous artist. Look closely and you'll see how the artist emphasizes the sheer quantity of material on display, and in doing so, makes a statement about wealth and taste. The walls are lined with paintings, framed and hung with little space between them. Above the fireplace, you can see Chinese porcelain, another precious material. It was highly sought after in Europe at the time. Think of the labor involved in the creation of all these things: mining and refining the pigments for the paintings, throwing and firing the porcelain, not to mention the skilled work of carpenters and builders who made the room itself. What we see here is the result of a vast network of production, connecting this room to workshops and trade routes around the world. Understanding the making of this room, and all its contents, helps us see the social and economic forces that shaped it.