Dwerg met mitella, kruk en zwaard; Dwerg met wandelstok 1621 - 1676

Abraham Bosse made this print, "Dwarf with sling, crutch and sword; Dwarf with walking stick," using etching in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-17th century. These diminutive figures, rendered with stark lines, capture the period's complex attitudes toward disability and social status. The image creates meaning through visual codes, like the sword, that were historically associated with the upper class; the sword appears in stark contrast to the crutch, highlighting their physical frailty. In the context of the Dutch Golden Age, when commerce and a rising middle class challenged traditional hierarchies, such depictions of disability served as social commentary, perhaps questioning conventional ideals of strength and nobility. To fully understand this piece, one might delve into emblem books popular at the time or the records of charitable institutions in the Netherlands. Ultimately, our interpretation is shaped by understanding the artwork's original social and institutional setting.