Man met houten been en een oude vrouw Possibly 1638 - 1665

This etching, "Man met houten been en een oude vrouw," was created by Salomon Savery in the 17th century. The stark contrasts of light and shadow immediately draw you into the intimate yet unsettling scene. The composition, with its focus on the man’s disfigured leg and the looming figure of the old woman, challenges traditional notions of beauty and wholeness. Savery uses line and form to create a sense of tension and unease. The wooden leg, rendered with meticulous detail, becomes a focal point, a signifier of loss and vulnerability. The etching destabilizes established meanings, prompting us to question societal values of perfection and the marginalization of those deemed different. The juxtaposition of youth and old age, wholeness and disability, creates a space for reflection on mortality and the transient nature of human existence. This is not just a picture but an exploration of the human condition and the structures that define our perceptions of self and other.