Hoefsmid 1658 - 1733

Editor: So, this is *Hoefsmid*, created sometime between 1658 and 1733 by Gerard Hoet. It's a print, an etching, or maybe even an engraving. It strikes me as rather...everyday, mundane almost, despite the dramatic Baroque style. What draws your eye in this piece? Curator: You know, “mundane” is interesting. At first glance, yes, a simple scene of a blacksmith at work. But Baroque wasn’t just for grand portraits. Look closer. See the precariousness in the horse’s stance, the lean of the building behind, etched lines dancing on the brink of chaos. What if Hoet is asking us to find the extraordinary in the ordinary? A life lived at the whim of industry. I find it very moving. Do you see that? Editor: I do see that, now. The horse does look rather…uncomfortable. But precariousness, even a little chaos in an image of such simple labour? Curator: Absolutely. Think of it. A horse being shoed was a vital component of pre-industrial infrastructure. Without strong horses the wheels of industry didn’t turn. The almost chaotic scene could be reflective of that time period? Editor: I see your point! I guess I initially overlooked the setting, the backdrop – it isn't just there for show. The whole composition speaks to a society reliant on these very everyday moments and labours. Curator: Precisely. Sometimes it's the simplest scenes that hold the deepest truths, isn’t it? To recognize art where others see the “mundane”… there's a joy to it. And that is the very beauty of *Hoefsmid*!