Blaasbalg 1666

Cornelis Saftleven made this drawing of a bellows, or ‘Blaasbalg’ in Dutch, in the seventeenth century. Saftleven was working in a Dutch Republic that had won its independence from Spain, and was enjoying an unprecedented level of economic prosperity. Notice the decorative carvings, the suggestion of gilt, and the almost anthropomorphic way the bellows seems to puff out its cheeks. This isn’t just a tool, but a luxury item, a sign of its owner’s wealth and status. We can imagine it hanging in the hearth of a prosperous merchant’s home, a testament to the social changes underway in Dutch society at the time. As art historians, we often turn to period inventories and household accounts to understand how such objects were perceived and valued. What does it mean when an everyday object is elevated to the status of art? It's a question worth considering.