Gezelschap rond rattenval 1629 - 1670

Jacques Dassonville created this etching titled "Gezelschap rond rattenval", or "Company around a rat trap," sometime in the 17th century. Dassonville was working in a Dutch Republic undergoing significant social and economic change. Here, we see a gathering of figures seemingly preoccupied with a rat trap, a scene that provides a window into the lives of ordinary people. Consider the symbolism of the rat trap itself. Rats, often associated with disease and poverty, may allude to the precariousness of daily life for many. The assembled figures, with their varied expressions, invite us to consider their social status and emotional states. Are they hopeful, wary, or simply curious? Dassonville invites us to ponder the complexities of human existence amid the challenges of the time. There's a tangible sense of community, albeit one tinged with the anxieties of survival. It’s a reminder of the past but resonates with our present concerns about who gets trapped in the systems of our society.