Handelsetiket van Hendrick Witte c. 1681 - 1740

Editor: So this is “Handelsetiket van Hendrick Witte,” a drawing, engraving and print by Isaac Vincentsz. van der Vinne, probably created sometime between 1681 and 1740. The heavy black lines create this sort of authoritative, official feel, and it appears to be a trade label, but I can’t quite decipher the imagery. What do you see here? Curator: It strikes me as a carefully constructed symbolic system. The central "HW" intertwined within the circle immediately establishes identity and ownership, functioning as a personal emblem but then surrounded by carefully considered emblems. Consider the cross above a sword, combined with stars. What do they evoke? Editor: Order? Maybe hierarchy? I suppose those are fairly loaded images… Curator: Indeed. These aren't arbitrary shapes, but rather deeply rooted cultural signifiers. Think about how heraldry worked: symbols communicating lineage, allegiance, even profession. This label performs a similar function. But I would ask: beyond conveying status, what might that central triangle represent to a tradesman in this era? Editor: A maker's mark, standing for quality, or…honesty? Like, I stand by this product. Curator: Exactly! It's a pledge, a promise, an entire history embedded within a single image. Consider how such symbols reinforce communal values but also shape individual and cultural identities over generations. Editor: Wow, I hadn’t thought about a trade label having such depth, such cultural weight. Now, when I look at this piece, I see more than just a graphic, but a little visual history lesson. Curator: Precisely. It is in how those historical lessons inform our daily lives and thoughts, making those labels important records to study.