Kind met een kat in zijn armen 1620 - 1664

Curator: Welcome. We’re standing before a lovely etching by Stefano della Bella titled, "Child with a Cat in his Arms." Della Bella, an Italian artist, created this print sometime between 1620 and 1664. It’s part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: My first thought is of gentleness. The lines are delicate, almost tentative, and the child’s expression is so soft. It feels very intimate, like we're intruding on a quiet moment. Curator: I agree, there is an undeniable softness. Consider the social context: such portraiture served to emphasize familial bonds, to display the innocence of youth. Prints like these would have circulated among the elite, reinforcing ideals of domesticity. Editor: It also strikes me how much emphasis is put on texture, right? Look at the swirling lines representing the child’s hair and then the contrast with the furry body of the cat, nestled securely. The use of light and shadow also plays with ideas of comfort, security, but is this really represented of every children in those times or mainly for the upper class family?. Curator: Precisely. Della Bella’s technique is interesting because, as you point out, texture creates depth in this piece. As to children representation back then, Della Bella moved in court circles, which shaped his vision. Editor: It’s compelling to think about the gaze here, too. The child isn’t looking directly at us, which adds to that sense of intimacy, the quiet, as I said. Yet, how many children even have a cat in those days. Curator: Indeed. This was, of course, constructed reality and a statement from those days that have its own value. So much of what was happening then still relevant now. Editor: Definitely gives one a lot to consider and connect with in this world!