Verkoper van vaatwerk 1660

Giuseppe Maria Mitelli created this etching, titled 'Verkoper van vaatwerk', or 'Vendor of cookware', sometime in the 17th or 18th century. Mitelli was an Italian printmaker and painter who often depicted scenes of everyday life. Here, we see a working-class man stumbling under the weight of a basket full of pottery, and it is in danger of spilling. There's something so human in this depiction of labor, and the precariousness of survival. What does it mean to carry such a burden, both literally and figuratively? Mitelli captures the vulnerability and hardship faced by the working class during this period. The broken pottery at the base of the image speaks to the fragility of their livelihoods. Though this image comes from centuries ago, it still resonates today as a depiction of struggle and resilience in the face of economic hardship.