Kennismaking 1740 - 1760

Editor: Here we have Jan Caspar Philips's "Kennismaking," which translates to "Introduction," a drawing printed sometime between 1740 and 1760. The tight, linear engraving makes the scene appear rigid. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: Notice the detailed rendering of the interior – the grid of the window, the precise lines defining the wall panels. The artist meticulously documents the material culture of the time. The paper itself also serves a material purpose as a communication medium and a commodity. Do you consider the relationship between labor involved in making the art object, versus what is being made within the object itself? Editor: That's interesting. I was focusing more on the social interaction depicted, the kind of staged quality of the encounter. How do you see the context in which prints like these were consumed? Curator: Prints like these, made through the craft of engraving, served as accessible forms of art. Rather than a unique painting, a print democratizes images. Who had access to the image impacts it’s consumption. Was this intended for the lower classes, middle, or for nobility? We see a performance of social class, perhaps satirizing courtship rituals. Editor: So, instead of just seeing a simple introduction, we can see a commentary on class, labor, and artistic production all wrapped up in the lines of the engraving itself. Curator: Exactly. The labor creates a narrative and adds complexity. By understanding those material conditions and the social systems involved, the work resonates beyond its surface-level depiction. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider! Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Looking at art this way gives us fresh perspective and deeper insights into both the piece and society from the period.