Schoorsteenveger 1660

This etching, "Schoorsteenveger" or Chimney Sweep, was made by Giuseppe Maria Mitelli in the 17th century. Mitelli, working in Bologna, Italy, was known for his detailed depictions of everyday life, offering us a glimpse into the lives of the working class during the Baroque period. Here, the chimney sweep, is presented not merely as a laborer, but as a figure marked by his trade. We see the residue of his work etched onto his very being. His clothes, though tattered, suggest a life of constant exposure to soot and grime. The print subtly acknowledges the social hierarchy of the time. Mitelli doesn't shy away from depicting the realities of labor, reflecting a broader cultural interest in representing all facets of society. The chimney sweep, often a child, was responsible for keeping the fires burning. Mitelli, though, doesn't deliver an accusatory polemic. Rather, he invites us to consider the human cost of societal comforts, prompting reflection on labor, class, and perhaps, our own complicity.