Jongen met uil c. 1625

This engraving, "Jongen met uil," was made by Cornelis Bloemaert. Notice how the artist skillfully uses line and shadow to create depth and texture in this small, intimate portrait. The composition centers on a boy and an owl, each rendered with meticulous detail. Bloemaert uses crosshatching to define the contours of the boy’s face and clothing, as well as the owl's feathers, creating a striking contrast between light and dark. The boy's gaze meets ours, while the owl looks away, perhaps symbolizing different modes of perception or knowledge. The formal structure suggests a balance between human intellect and natural instinct. This image challenges conventional notions of portraiture by placing an animal alongside the human subject. The owl, traditionally a symbol of wisdom, complicates the reading of the boy's identity. Is he wise beyond his years, or is the owl merely a pet? The lack of a definitive answer invites us to question the fixed meanings we assign to images and symbols.