Interieur van een zaal in Kasteel Cannenburgh te Vaassen 1890 - 1920

This photograph depicts a room inside the Cannenburgh Castle, and was made by an anonymous photographer. The room itself, as we can see, is a showcase of elite craft traditions. The most obvious feature is the extensive woodwork. Notice the labor-intensive process of shaping and fitting the panels, requiring the skills of carpenters and joiners. Consider also the textiles: the upholstered chairs and tablecloths involved weavers, dyers, and seamstresses. The chandeliers are complex assemblies of glass and metal, each element requiring specialized knowledge. Then there are the paintings, requiring artists trained in rendering likeness and allegory. All these materials and processes speak to a culture of conspicuous consumption, where skilled labor was marshaled to create an environment of refined taste. By focusing on the means of production, we can see beyond the surface and appreciate the human effort embedded in the art.