Man staande bij een tafel met paperassen 1836 - 1906

This image, "Man Standing by a Table with Papers," was made by Willem Steelink. It is a print, most likely an etching or engraving, judging by the fineness of the lines. Look closely, and you can see how the artist has built up tone with many tiny strokes, giving a sense of the textures and surfaces in the room. The figure's clothing, the tablecloth, and the papers all have a tactile quality. These are the products of skilled labor, like the man standing before us. Consider the social context of printmaking: it's a medium of reproduction and distribution, making images accessible to a wider audience. It invites us to reflect on the relationship between the individual, labor, and the circulation of knowledge and information. It prompts a consideration of value - what is precious, what is commonplace, and how do we tell the difference? The production of a print is an important lens through which we can understand the changing dynamics of society and work in Steelink's time.