De lamme en de blinde 1620 - 1630

Editor: So, here we have Cornelis Bloemaert’s engraving, "De lamme en de blinde," created sometime between 1620 and 1630. It depicts two figures, one crippled, the other blind, seemingly helping each other along. I find the scene strangely unsettling. What is your take on this artwork? Curator: It's interesting that you find it unsettling. As a historian, I immediately look to the social context. Prints like these, especially during the Baroque period, often served a didactic purpose. Considering that this was a time of immense social stratification, who was this work designed for, and what messages were being transmitted and reinforced by this type of imagery? Editor: That makes sense. So you think it’s more than just a simple depiction of disability? Curator: Exactly! What are the implications of showing those deemed less powerful in society needing to rely on one another? We need to consider what role images such as this one play in shaping perceptions of disability, of social dependency, and power dynamics in society. Editor: I see, so it prompts us to consider the artist's intent and how that intent reflects and influences societal norms and values of the time. Also, this print is on display in a museum, how would the context of its location affect or impact viewers? Curator: A museum placement undoubtedly shapes our experience, as well. This particular piece also engages with a visual trope used as satire in northern renaissance art. Recognizing those visual queues and its current exhibition within a major European museum offers us a framework with which to consider Bloemaert's engagement with the concept and societal context, and not to see it as an isolated artwork. I appreciate you pointing that out. Editor: Absolutely! That contextual lens truly reframes the work and gives me new insight! Curator: And considering all factors in their contemporary time as well as their future role is crucial to contextualizing the sociopolitical forces present at the time of their creation and exhibition!