Ambachten en beroepen 1792 - 1847

Editor: This engraving, "Ambachten en beroepen," by Hendrik Moolenyzer, dating from 1792 to 1847, showcases a grid of various professions. The detail is striking, and the figures feel very immediate despite being from so long ago. What strikes you most about this depiction of labour? Curator: Well, immediately I'm drawn to how each figure and profession is almost presented as an emblem. Look at the chocolatier – posed, self-contained, with symbols of his trade carefully arranged. It’s as if each panel encapsulates a certain cultural value. What emotions or ideas do these symbols stir in you? Editor: It makes me think about how these professions defined people's identities and contributed to society. The imagery feels… curated, in a way, idealised perhaps? Curator: Precisely! Moolenyzer isn't just showing us labour; he’s codifying it. He's participating in the enlightenment project of classifying and understanding the world, but through the lens of labour and social roles. Does seeing them grouped this way change how you think about them? Editor: Definitely! Seeing them side by side highlights the interconnectedness of all these roles in creating a functioning society. It also emphasizes how the artist chose to represent these individuals—a curated depiction of a collective identity. It's like visual sociology. Curator: Yes, visual sociology—I love that. And think about the choices: which professions were included, and which were omitted? What does that tell us about the values and priorities of the time? Each emblem is not just a worker, but a little piece of cultural memory. Editor: This makes me rethink how something as simple as an occupational image is packed with social and historical context! Curator: Absolutely! The symbols used resonate with the emotional and cultural weight placed on work at that time and continuing to resonate today.