Paard en wagen met ton 1809 - 1837

This is an early 19th-century etching by Pieter Bartholomeusz. Barbiers, depicting a horse and cart carrying a large barrel, likely made using an iron plate and acid. The precision of line suggests someone skilled in drawing, which was essential for the production of prints, and it is fascinating to consider the labor involved in the production of the paper itself. During this period, paper would have been made by hand, using a mould and deckle to form sheets from pulp. This process required immense physical labor, often undertaken by marginalized communities. The image itself captures a scene of everyday commerce, with the horse-drawn cart likely transporting goods to market, and it reminds us that even seemingly simple images are embedded in complex systems of production and exchange. Barbiers used readily available materials to reveal a system of labor.