Holland Fine Arts
Hand-colored engraving depicting a sculptor using a hammer and chisel to carve a figure out of a large block of stone, from a Dutch Golden Age print series by Jan Luyken, originally dated 1694.
The Sculpture - Jan Luyken, 1694

Tour the Gallery

The Mirror of Human Activities, created in the 17th century by Dutch master Jan Luyken and his son, Caspar, is a collection of engravings that are as beautiful as they are historic. The collection contains one hundred exquisite artworks that illustrate various arts and crafts, textile trades, marine pursuits, and more.

Each edition depicts a specific occupation, including the profession’s title, and a few lines of poetry.

The Sculpture - Jan Luyken, 1694

What’s Included in The Mirror of Human Activities?

This series, a touchstone of Dutch Golden Age print culture, remains a widely held institutional treasure, preserved for centuries in major collections like the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

It is now brought to you exquisitely hand-colored following the 17th-century Dutch manner, ensuring a work that is both authentic to the past and unique in the present.

Our catalogue includes works such as:

  • The Artist
  • The Attorney
  • The Professor
  • The Sculptor
  • The Soldier
  • The Fisherman
  • The Teacher
  • The Mirror Maker
  • The Musician
  • The Cabinet Maker
  • The Baker
  • The Carpenter
  • The Tailor
  • The Wig maker
  • The Shoemaker
  • The Book Printer
  • The Clock Maker
  • The Glass Blower
  • The Brick Maker
  • The Candle Maker
  • The Butcher
  • The Goldsmith
  • The Doctor
  • The Farmer
  • The Gardener
  • The Hunter
  • The Sailer
  • The Pastry-Chef
  • The Diamond Cutter
  • The Silversmith
  • The Hatter
  • The Optician
  • The Wig Maker
  • The Plumber
  • and more

Bring the Golden Age of Dutch Fine Art to Life

All of our editions are hand-colored in the same 17th-century Dutch tradition.

Holland Fine Arts uses the best art pigments available to hand-color each piece, resulting in what is known as a “New Original.” As an accomplished watercolor artist trained in Holland, Johannes Krane specializes in the hand coloring of intaglio pieces. This intricate task requires a high level of skill, and Mr. Krane is well-versed in the 17th-century methods and techniques of color application.

Hand-colored engraving depicting a craftsman applying reflective backing to a glass mirror in a workshop, from a Dutch Golden Age print series by Jan Luyken (originally dated 1694), hand-colored by Johannes Krane.