Verkoper van keukengereedschap 1660

Giuseppe Maria Mitelli made this print of a kitchen utensil vendor using etching, a printmaking technique, in the late 17th century. In this era, the streets of Italian cities teemed with vendors. Their presence shaped the daily lives of city residents, connecting rural producers with urban consumers. Mitelli’s image presents a man burdened with his wares; tubs hanging from his shoulders and a basket overflowing with spoons and whisks. But the text printed on the sheet tells us that this is “a seller of flour.” How might we reconcile the image and the text? Perhaps the objects for sale are not as important as the action they represent. This image may be a comment on the social structure of work in Bologna. Looking closely at prints like these, consulting account books, and reading descriptions of city life helps us understand the culture of early modern Europe. Art offers essential clues for historians seeking to understand the past.