Letter P met bedelaar 1639 - 1643

Claude Mellan produced this print, “Letter P met bedelaar”, in the 17th century using etching. This print, now in the Rijksmuseum, shows the letter P and a beggar. Mellan was a French artist working in a time of great social inequality. In the 17th century, France was a hierarchical society, with a small, wealthy elite and a large population of poor people. The beggar is an interesting addition to this composition. Does the image, therefore, point to the social inequalities of the time? These images of letters were often used in educational settings, allowing children to recognize the letters. They could have also been used for decoration or as a form of personal expression. By researching the history of printing and education in 17th-century France, we can better understand the social and cultural context of this work and how it reflects the values and beliefs of the time.