Vier smeedijzeren deurkloppers before 1887

Here we see a print of four wrought iron door knockers, dating back to the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries, crafted by an anonymous artist. These door knockers offer a glimpse into the social fabric of their time, a period marked by rigid class distinctions and deeply entrenched social hierarchies. In a society where access to homes and spaces was often determined by status, these knockers served as potent symbols of power and exclusion. The artistry and detail of the knockers hint at the stories of those who commissioned them, their identities, and their place within the social order. The images of these knockers, now rendered in print, invite us to consider not only their aesthetic qualities but also their historical context. What does it mean to see a historical object mediated through the lens of reproduction? How does it change the way we perceive and understand these items today?