Jongen met een glas 1698 - 1776

Curator: I am struck by the dramatic use of chiaroscuro; it lends such depth to the composition. Editor: This is "Boy with a Glass," an engraving by Johannes de (II) Groot, created sometime between 1698 and 1776. It is currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. One immediately observes the anonymous boy's peculiar relationship with class and privilege. Engravings like these democratized access to art, circulating imagery of the wealthy to broader audiences, though here we don't know the model, and this might be purely from the artist's imagination. Curator: Indeed. The high contrast not only sculpts the figure but isolates him, drawing our gaze to his features and the delicately rendered glass he holds. It almost feels like we're intruding on a private moment. I can sense some vulnerability but this could also suggest something about a staged representation. Editor: It is fascinating to think about who would have had access to engravings in the late 17th, early 18th century. Were these images consumed passively, or did they ignite aspirations and perhaps fuel social unrest? And in what settings would one display this, when one also considered decorum? What would an owner do with this artwork when in contact with a peer, versus when in contact with a servant? Curator: Consider, too, the technical skill evident in this engraving. The texture of the boy's hair, the subtle gradations of light across his face, all achieved with such precision through the delicate carving of lines. It demonstrates a real mastery of the medium. Editor: Looking closely at this print, one begins to appreciate how such images played a role in shaping social imaginaries during an era of both opulence and growing social inequalities. It is intriguing how a single artwork could speak volumes about the complexities of its time. Curator: And also reveal aspects about universal features that are timeless in a sense, when we reflect about life and portraiture, that is.