De dwerg Boose Griet als waardin, 1720 1718 - 1720

Pieter van Buysen Jr. created this engraving titled 'De dwerg Boose Griet als waardin' in 1720. The composition is dominated by a grotesque figure, rendered with sharp lines and stark contrast, evoking a sense of unease. Van Buysen's work uses caricature to destabilize established ideas of beauty and status, engaging with the satirical tradition. Through distortion, the artist challenges fixed meanings, inviting a reevaluation of social and moral categories. The exaggerated features and dynamic pose function as signs within a semiotic structure, communicating ideas about power and social order. The deliberate use of crude lines and unbalanced forms disrupt conventional artistic values, questioning the aesthetic norms. The print’s formal qualities reflect a broader cultural discourse of questioning established values and exploring new modes of representation. It reminds us that art is a site of ongoing interpretation.