A detailed Dutch etching from the series Menselyk Bedryf, depicting a carpenter at work with accompanying moralising verse.

This etching by Cornelis van der Sys, titled De Timmerman, originates from the series Menselyk Bedryf (Human Occupations). The work depicts a carpenter at his trade, captured in a moment of focused labour. The central figure sits upon a large timber beam, wielding a mallet and chisel to shape the wood. In the background, other workers are visible on scaffolding, providing a sense of a busy construction site. The composition is typical of Dutch genre prints from the period, which often sought to document the daily lives and crafts of the working class.

The print includes a title header and a moralising verse in Dutch, which was a common feature in seventeenth and eighteenth-century European print culture. The text reflects on the nature of building, drawing a parallel between the construction of physical houses and the preparation for the afterlife. The etching technique allows for fine detail in the wood grain, the tools scattered on the ground, and the textures of the workers' clothing. The cross-hatching and line work create a sense of depth and volume within the scene, despite the relatively small scale of the image.

Van der Sys was active in the Netherlands during a time when the documentation of trades was a popular subject for artists and publishers. This print provides a glimpse into the tools and methods of a carpenter in the early eighteenth century. The inclusion of the verse adds a layer of social and religious commentary, typical of the era's didactic approach to art. The print is a clear example of how technical skill was applied to both artistic representation and the dissemination of moral values through visual media.