Ambachten, bedrijven 1861 - 1929

Curator: Welcome. We are standing before "Ambachten, Bedrijven," a print dating between 1861 and 1929. It’s currently held in the Rijksmuseum and created by Albertus Willem Sijthoff. Editor: Right off, it reminds me of a broadside—the kind you'd see posted in the town square. The muted colours and organized layout give it a humble, accessible feeling, but a bit didactic, maybe? Curator: Absolutely. Prints like these were indeed intended for public display, as educational tools. Consider the title, "Prints for the Benefit of the General Public." The imagery illustrates various trades and occupations prevalent at the time. It visually promotes the virtues of honest labour. Editor: I see the characters going about their business and something about the rendering makes them charming and earnest. Do you know whether this print was hand-coloured afterward, or how many were made at the time? Curator: It was likely hand-coloured, a common practice back then to make prints more attractive. Mass production allowed wide distribution and popular support. A publisher like Sijthoff played a vital role, effectively shaping and guiding public knowledge by disseminating ideals on work and contribution. Editor: Looking closer, the little poems under each illustration add another layer. A combined visual and text format like this seems intended to engage even those who aren't strong readers. I bet it would trigger fond associations with one's own work as well, and prompt good, if nostalgic, discussion around the hearth in the evening. Curator: Indeed. These prints played an essential role in shaping a shared understanding of social roles and expectations within a community. Today it gives us some great insights into social mores of the time! Editor: In a way, looking at this now makes me want to explore all of the ways we represent the concept of ‘work’ today! I am really happy it exists for us to see now!