De spin en de zijderups 1792

Reinier Vinkeles made this print, "De spin en de zijderups", using engraving, a process involving cutting lines into a metal plate to hold ink. It is a meticulous method, suited to the detailed rendering of the interior depicted here. The composition stages a kind of competition between two forms of labor. On one side, there is a spider diligently weaving its web. On the other, a woman wields a long handled brush, destroying that very web. The silk worm, not visible, is implicitly present as a more valued form of production. This scene makes a subtle comment on the economics of the time. Silk production was a major industry, requiring labor to cultivate silkworms and weave the precious material. The spider’s web, though a marvel of natural engineering, has no economic value. By depicting the destruction of the spiderweb, Vinkeles highlights how certain forms of labor are valued over others, reflecting the social and economic priorities of the 18th century.