Ziet, kindren! afgebeeld een reeks van liên, wien handel! / In veelerhande slach van waaren, by hun handel, / Langs staat en grachten, schoon in 't kieen, bestaat. Zo vindt, / Elk op zyn wys, den kost, dien men dus eerlyk wint 1806 - 1830

This print by Johan Noman was made in the Netherlands, sometime before 1833. It's made with an engraving process, where lines are incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Here, the material and the way it's worked, greatly influences the appearance, with thin, precise lines creating detailed scenes. This isn’t traditional ‘fine art’; it’s a print, intended for wide distribution. The image shows various tradespeople at work, selling goods along the canals and streets. Each figure is depicted with simple lines, emphasizing their labor and the goods they carry. Engraving like this was a skilled craft, demanding precision. It was crucial for disseminating information and visual culture in the 19th century, tying into wider social issues of labor and commerce. This print gives us a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people, making their living through honest work. By looking closely at this artwork, we recognize the importance of materials, making, and context, and move beyond outdated distinctions between fine art and craft.