De wiskonstenaars of het gevluchte juffertje 1752 - 1761

"De wiskonstenaars of het gevluchte juffertje" (The mathematicians or the escaped girl), an etching created by Pieter Tanjé between 1752 and 1761, depicts a scene of deception and intrigue. A group of men, likely mathematicians, gather around a table, with one man pointing at a ring drawn on the floor, while another man attempts to distract them by pointing at a woman who has just escaped from the room. The detailed depiction of the scene and the complex play of shadows within the room, typical of 18th-century Dutch art, highlights the themes of cunning and illusion. This etching, now held at the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Tanjé's mastery of the medium and his ability to portray everyday life with wit and humor.