Verkoper van lijsten 1749

This drawing, titled "Verkoper van lijsten" and created by David Herrliberger, likely dates back to the 18th century. The composition is immediately striking: a lone figure centered within a framed rectangle, overburdened with ornate picture frames. The chromatic scale is muted, dominated by a soft palette of lavenders, greens, and browns, all of which serve to highlight the gilt frames he carries. Consider the formal arrangement here. The figure’s posture bends under the weight, creating a series of angles and curves that are mirrored in the frames themselves. This repetition isn’t accidental. It serves to emphasize the burden—both literal and perhaps metaphorical—of the “frame” in structuring our perception. Herrliberger seems to be asking: what shapes our view of reality? This piece invites us to consider the structures, or the frames, through which we perceive the world. Is it not our cultural and societal norms that dictate what we see and how we interpret it?