Werkplaats voor het gieten van spiegelglazen 1747

Frans de Bakker created this print of a mirror glass workshop. The print depicts the intense labor involved in the glass-making process, while also offering a glimpse into the socio-economic structures of the time. Consider how class is represented. The workers, likely from lower socio-economic backgrounds, are shown engaged in physically demanding and dangerous tasks. Their labor is essential to the production of luxury goods, yet their identities are largely obscured. The scene evokes questions about the human cost of industry. What are the ethical implications of such labor practices, particularly when those who profit most are removed from the work? Here, the artist presents us with not just a scene of labor, but an invitation to reflect on the conditions that shape the lives and experiences of those who create the objects we often take for granted. The print challenges us to recognize and confront inequalities embedded in our social fabric.