Ketellapper en twee vrouwen 1809 - 1841

Joannes Bemme made this etching of a tinker and two women. Etching is an indirect method of engraving, where the artist uses acid to cut into the metal plate, allowing for the creation of finely detailed, linear designs. Bemme, born in the late 18th century, would have used this technique to portray scenes from everyday life, capturing the social fabric of his time. Here, we see a transaction taking place. The tinker, equipped with his tools, offers his services, while the women engage with him. Note the expressions and details rendered through etched lines. This image invites us to consider the social context of labor and trade in 18th and 19th century Netherlands. The very act of etching, with its careful planning and skilled execution, mirrors the tinker's own craft. Bemme elevates this scene of a common trade to an art form, blurring the line between everyday work and fine art.