Ambachten en beroepen 1787 - 1849

This print, titled "Ambachten en beroepen" and made by Alexander Cranendoncq, depicts a range of tradespeople at work. It's an early example of mass media, printed on paper and distributed by Schalekamp, van de Grampel en Hanssen. Each scene is a small window into the labor of the time. From tailoring to barrel making, these vignettes illustrate the social fabric of Amsterdam. The material of the print itself speaks volumes: paper was relatively cheap, allowing these images to reach a broad audience. Look closely, and you will see the stark contrast between the relatively clean workshops of some trades and what looks like child labor in others, highlighting the class divisions inherent in this economy. Cranendoncq's print isn't just a representation; it's a product of the very system it depicts. It collapses any high/low distinction. By placing craft and labor at the forefront, we can see how deeply intertwined art is with the social and economic realities of its time.