Book Title: Spiegel van het menselyk bedrijf : in kleuren vertoond met honderd verbeeldingen, van ambachten, konsten, hanteeringen en bedryven, met verzen / Jan en Kasper Luiken.

Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712

Image Title: The Knife Maker: Where laughter is, Crying is near

Scripture Reference:

• Proverbs 1 (further images / scripture text)

Description: The knife maker sharpens the blade of a knife in front of his shop window. Outside, two men test the sharpness of a knife. The Dutch artist and poet, Jan Luiken (1649-1712), was responsible for drawing this emblem and for creating the motto and poem that follow. Jan Luiken and/or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708) were responsible for its etching. The attendant scripture text is Proverbs 1:29-33. Motto: Where laughter is, / Crying is near. Poem: The knife, in the wrong hand, /Makes for a dangerous situation: /Therefore that play is taken from the child: / So is that, what goes according to wish, / In the world’s wellbeing, for man, /Only to lead to great misfortune. (Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker).

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