Beroepen

This is a print called 'Beroepen'—or 'Occupations'—created by Jan de Lange II in the first half of the 19th century. During this period, the Netherlands was transitioning from the Dutch Golden Age into a more industrialized society, and this print offers a glimpse into the lives of everyday people, and their labor. The images show different tradespeople such as a milkman, a fisherman and a tailor doing their work. Each occupation is rendered with the visual simplicity of folk art, and accompanied by a short descriptive verse. Prints like this circulated among a broad public, they reflect the social structure of the time, which was still highly stratified by class and profession. The artist offers a view of Dutch society at a time when social roles and economic activities were deeply interwoven with personal and communal identity. Each image reflects the dignity and skill of common labor, suggesting a shared identity that binds the community together through their collective work.