De schoenmaker en de spinster als schoolmeesters 1623 - 1660

Pieter de Bailliu created this print titled 'The Cobbler and the Spinner as Schoolmasters'. The chaotic scene captures the atmosphere of a so-called "allemote school," or "all-mode school," where traditional methods of education were replaced by more accessible forms of learning. This shift reflects broader changes in society, where traditional hierarchies and institutions faced challenges from emerging ideas about individual freedom and social mobility. In the 17th century, the rise of a merchant class and increased urbanization created a demand for practical skills and knowledge that existing educational structures often failed to provide. The print suggests an underlying commentary on the value of education for women, who were traditionally excluded from formal learning. We see the interior of a domestic space where men and women are now teachers. How might this space democratize education for women, and/or promote harmful gendered stereotypes? The print invites us to consider how societal transformations affect our understanding of knowledge, gender roles, and education. The artist prompts reflection on whether accessible education truly empowers individuals, or rather perpetuates existing inequalities in new forms.