Burgerstand en boerenstand 1731 - 1788

Johann Esaias Nilson created this print titled *Burgerstand en boerenstand* using etching, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid. The material quality of this print belies its commentary on labor, class, and consumption in 18th century society. The etching process allowed for the creation of intricate ornamental frames, each housing scenes representing the *Burgerstand*, or the bourgeois, and the *Boerenstand*, the farmers. On the left we can see an artist and emblems of the crafts; on the right, rural motifs with animals, crops, and a child holding a scythe, alluding to agricultural labor. These mirrored depictions, rendered through the skilled application of etching techniques, draw a contrast between the commercial and working classes and their relationship to the fruits of labor. Nilson’s choice of printmaking makes the statement accessible to a wide audience, effectively democratizing the consumption and discussion of social classes. It prompts us to reconsider how art can reflect and engage with socio-economic issues, blurring the lines between fine art, craft, and social commentary.