Professor in de filosoof en zijn vrouw 1641

Crispijn van de Passe II’s *Professor in de filosoof en zijn vrouw*, a 1641 etching, depicts a philosopher and his wife in two separate oval frames. The philosopher, wearing a cap and glasses, studies a book, while his wife appears to be in conversation with another figure, but only her head and shoulders are visible. The etching is a striking example of portraiture, highlighting the visual aspects of a 17th-century Dutch scholar and his wife, showcasing details like the philosopher’s reading glasses, the philosopher's attire, and the wife's elaborate headdress. The artist's deft use of line and shading lends a sense of realism to the figures, and the intimate setting adds to the overall sense of intimacy and domesticity.