De mens is niet als de dieren / Schaap / Roeiboot / Gastvrijheid before 1767

Editor: So, here we have Cornelis van Noorde's engraving, "De mens is niet als de dieren / Schaap / Roeiboot / Gastvrijheid," dating from before 1767. It's made up of four different scenes, like panels of a comic. I am struck by how disparate they seem at first glance. What do you see connecting these images, or how do you interpret this combination? Curator: Ah, an intriguing little puzzle! What *do* they have in common? Well, if you consider the title – "Man is not like the animals / Sheep / Rowboat / Hospitality"–it becomes clear that Van Noorde's creating a philosophical statement, I think. We start with scenes of simple animal life and progress, visually, towards more 'civilized' or complex human interactions: Transportation by boat and, finally, a social scene inside a home. Editor: That’s a neat way to put it – a progression! So, the engraving pushes the viewer to contrast "animal" and "human" behavior? Curator: Precisely! And note how Van Noorde visually elevates hospitality in the final panel: sharing food and drink, a moment of refuge, creating an inclusive scene which separates 'man' from the animal kingdom…Or does it? Perhaps he’s suggesting a subtle critique, as the 'civilized' indoor scene appears rather cluttered and possibly corrupt in contrast with the calm simplicity of the shepherded landscape? Editor: I like that tension! At first, it appears as a straightforward statement, but the more you look, the more complex it becomes. Thank you, I'll definitely be spending more time contemplating Van Noorde’s engravings after this. Curator: My pleasure; me too!