De Staalmeesters: het college van staalmeesters (waardijns) van het Amsterdamse lakenbereidersgilde 1854

Adolf Carel Nunnink made this print, 'The Sampling Officials', based on the painting by Rembrandt, using etching and burin. This image encapsulates the immense economic power of the Dutch cloth trade in the 17th century. These men were responsible for maintaining quality control, and therefore the reputation of Amsterdam's most important export. The original painting hangs in this museum, too, so take a look. Nunnink made his print at a time when the Dutch were keen to look back to their Golden Age, and the institutions that made Amsterdam so powerful. The guild system which the sampling officials represent, was integral to Dutch success in global markets. Here, Nunnink creates meaning through a copy, turning painting into print for wider circulation. Through his work, we can appreciate the enduring legacy of the Dutch Golden Age and reflect on the social and institutional structures that made it possible. Historians use archival records, economic data, and visual analysis to understand better the complex interplay between art, society, and commerce.