Klokkenmakers c. 1589 - 1593

Philips Galle created "Klokkenmakers," or "Clockmakers" in English, a detailed engraving that offers us a glimpse into the 16th-century world of craftsmanship. The image shows the interior of a clockmaker's workshop, alive with industry. This was a time of growing European mercantile power, where skilled labor was pivotal to the economy. Galle presents a social hierarchy within the workshop, distinguishing between the master craftsman and his assistants through their dress and activity. Note the figures working intensely by the furnace compared to the well-dressed man at the front. The print underlines the value placed on skilled work, while also hinting at the labor divisions inherent in the burgeoning capitalist systems of the time. It highlights the intricate dance between labor, technology, and social status. It invites reflection on how trades have evolved, but also on what has remained unchanged in the human pursuit of craft and commerce.