Floskaartjes - Jacobus Wendel

A detailed nineteenth-century Dutch etching featuring a grid of thirty-six figures representing various social ranks and professions.

This print, titled Floskaartjes, presents a grid of thirty-six individual figures, each enclosed within a rectangular frame. Produced in Amsterdam by H. H. Toben, the work functions as a visual catalogue of social hierarchy and professional roles during the early nineteenth century. The figures are arranged in pairs, representing various ranks from the nobility and clergy to the merchant class and labourers. Each character is identified by a Dutch label, such as 'Kyzer' (Emperor), 'Bisschop' (Bishop), 'Koopman' (Merchant), and 'Boer' (Farmer).

The draughtsmanship is precise and economical, relying on clean lines to define the silhouettes and costumes of the era. The figures are depicted in a standing posture, often accompanied by small props that signify their trade or status, such as a scythe for the figure representing death or a basket for the market woman. The final two frames in the sequence deviate from the social hierarchy, depicting allegorical representations of life and death, which provides a moralising conclusion to the collection of societal types.

Jacobus Wendel, the artist responsible for these designs, captures the rigid structure of Dutch society through this systematic arrangement. The print serves as a historical record of period fashion, ranging from military uniforms to domestic attire. The composition is strictly ordered, reflecting the orderly nature of the social strata it documents. The inclusion of the publisher's address at the bottom of the sheet indicates its origin as a commercial print, likely intended for use as a parlour game or educational tool for children. The work remains a clear example of the graphic traditions prevalent in Amsterdam during this period, where such sheets were commonly sold to provide both entertainment and social commentary.