Timmerman 1814 - 1879

David van der Kellen created this print of a carpenter, or “Timmerman” as the title suggests, in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century. This image gives us insight into the cultural and economic structures of the Netherlands at that time by depicting a tradesman in his workshop. His trade relies on handcraft, which at the time was increasingly being taken over by the Industrial Revolution. Notice the tools that are hanging on the wall, such as the plumb-bob and other measuring devices. How might the culture of craftsmanship be impacted by an increased reliance on machine manufacturing? How might the institutions that promote art, such as the Rijksmuseum, serve to preserve the memory of this craftsmanship? By consulting historical records, economic data, and cultural studies of the period, we can understand how the image embodies the transformation of labor and production in the 19th century.