Het Menselyk Bedryf ("The Book of Trades")

Surgery in Amsterdam (ca. 1690)

Het Menselyk Bedryf ("The Book of Trades") is an Emblem book of 100 engravings by Jan Luyken and his son Caspar published in 1694, illustrating various trades in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age. The majority of the trades shown are from the textile industry (12), followed by marine pursuits (8). The book follows the moralist contemporary style of the then hugely popular emblem books of Jacob Cats, containing a moralistic poem per trade.

Trade titles by page number

1 Baker – Backer 2 Tailor – Kleermaker 3 Carpenter – Timmerman 4 Bricklayer – Metselaar 5 Glazier – Glasemaaker 6 Plumber – Lootgieter 7 Cabinet-maker – Schrijnwerker 8 Brush-maker – Schuyermaaker 9 Broom-maker – Beesemmaaker 10 Basket-maker – Mandemaaker 11 Sieve maker – Seevemaaker 12 Chair-maker – Stoelemaaker 13 Spinner (thread twister) – Gaarentwynder 14 Silk maker – Syreeder 15 Wool-dresser – Wolbereider 16 Weaver – Weever 17 Cloth-shearer – Droogscheerder 18 Dyer – Veruwer 19 Shoemaker – Schoenmaaker 20 Comb maker – Kammemaaker 21 Optician – Brillemaaker 22 Needle maker – Naaldemaaker 23 Pin-maker – Speldemaaker 24 Gold-wire drawer – Gouddraadtrecker 25 Bronze-founder – Geelgieter 26 Tin-founder – Tinnegieter 27 Scales maker – Balansemaaker 28 Smith – Smit 29 Coppersmith – Kooperslaager 30 Lantern-maker – Lantaarenmaaker 31 Cutler – Messemaaker 32 Armourer – Swaardveeger 33 Gunsmith – Roeremaaker 34 Skate-maker – Schaatsemaaker 35 Pole-maker – Boommaaker 36 Cannon-maker – Pompemaaker 37 Ship's carpenter – Scheepstimmerman 38 Rope maker – Lyndraaier 39 Sail-maker – Seilemaaker 40 Cooper – Kuiper 41 Oil-maker – Olislaager 42 Candle-maker – Kaarsemaaker 43 Butcher – Vleeshouwer 44 Pastry-chef – Pasteibacker 45 Confectioner (Sugar manufacture) – Suikerbacker 46 Apothecary – Apotheeker 47 Gardener (Horticulturist) – Hovenier 48 Miller – Moolenaar 49 Brewer – Brouwer 50 Grocer – Grutter

51 Wagonwright – Waagemaaker 52 Saddler – Saalemaaker 53 Bellows-maker – Blaasbalckemaaker 54 Turner – Draaier 55 Instrument-maker – Instrumentmaaker 56 Barber-surgeon – Chirurgyn 57 Wig-maker – Pruikemaaker 58 Hatter – Hoedemaaker 59 Tanner – Leerbereider 60 Paper maker – Papiermaaker 61 Book-printer – Boeckdrucker 62 Copperplate printer – Plaatdrucker 63 Bookbinder – Boeckbinder 64 Schoolmaster – Schoolmeester 65 Clockmaker – Orlosimaaker 66 Mirror-maker – Spiegelmaaker 67 Glass-blower – Glasblaaser 68 Bleacher (for linen and wool) – Bleeker 69 Stone-sawyer – Steensager 70 Stonemason – Steenhouwer 71 Brick-maker – Tichgellaar 72 Potter – Pottebacker 73 Glue maker (for furniture and sizing) – Lymmaaker 74 Peat-cutter – Veender 75 Miner – Bergwercker 76 Minter (coin maker) – Munter 77 Goldbeater – Goudslager 78 Silversmith – Silversmit 79 Goldsmith – Goudsmit 80 Diamond-cutter – Diamantslyper 81 Pearl hole-maker – Peerelgaater 82 Embroiderer – Borduurder 83 Tapestry-maker – Tapeitwerker 84 Painter – Schilder 85 Engraver – Plaatsnyder 86 Sculptor – Beeldhouwer 87 Musician – Musikant 88 Astrologer – Astrologist 89 Lawyer – Advokaat 90 Chemist – Scheider 91 Doctor (Physician) – Docter 92 Teacher (Preacher) – Leeraar 93 Farmer (Landowner) – Landman 94 Sailor – Zeeman 95 Fisherman – Visser 96 Hunter – Jaager 97 Merchant (Banker) – Koopman 98 Soldier (Officer) – Krygsman 99 Ruler (Prince) – Heerscher 100 Grave-digger – Doodgraaver

External links

• Engravings from Spiegel van het Menselyk Bedryf, "The Book of Trades"
• Information about Jan Luyken in the digital library of Dutch Literature – DBNL