Luciferverkoper 1840

Pieter van Loon’s pencil drawing, Luciferverkoper, captures a slice of 19th-century Dutch street life. The young merchant, in his cap and clogs, stands holding a walking stick and carrying a basket full of matches – “lucifers” in Dutch. Van Loon’s work provides a glimpse into the lives of working-class people. The detailed rendering of the merchant’s worn clothes and earnest expression invites contemplation on the social and economic realities of the time. This image reflects how economic survival often depended on the labor of children and the working classes. With an unflinching eye, Van Loon draws a portrait of an anonymous, but resilient figure whose daily existence was woven into the fabric of the city. The image allows us to reflect on how the labor of the working class created the very world in which we live.