Boer en boerin 1788 - 1802

Jan Chalon created this etching titled 'Boer en boerin,' or 'Farmer and Wife,' sometime around 1784. The composition is striking in its simplicity, the two figures pressed close, filling the frame. Chalon's use of line is particularly effective. Notice how he employs dense, almost frantic, hatching to create areas of deep shadow. This not only models the forms but also imparts a sense of immediacy and raw energy to the image. The roughness of the lines contributes to the unidealized representation of the subjects. The faces, etched with character, seem to resist any romantic notions of rural life, offering instead a glimpse into a more grounded reality. The lack of idealization reflects broader shifts in artistic values of the time, away from the classical and towards a more direct engagement with the everyday. This approach challenges established aesthetic categories. It invites us to consider the value of the unadorned and the beauty found in the ordinary.