Tools c. 1590 - 1596

This iron axe with a wooden handle was made by an anonymous maker, and now resides in the Rijksmuseum. It may seem like an ordinary object, but think of what it represents: the daily lives and the physical labor of ordinary people, often overlooked in the grand narratives of history that focus on royals or wars. The very anonymity of its creator speaks volumes. It reminds us that countless skilled artisans and laborers contributed to the societies of their time, yet their names and stories often go unrecorded. Consider the social conditions that shaped its production. Was it made in a rural workshop or as part of a larger industry? What economic structures enabled its creation and distribution? To understand this humble tool, we turn to archives, material culture studies, and social histories. Here we find the value of art lies not just in its aesthetic qualities, but in its ability to reflect and challenge the norms of the societies that produced it.