Acht kinderen spelen blindemannetje 1618 - 1655

Curator: What a delightful chaos! Before us we have an engraving, "Acht kinderen spelen blindemannetje", which translates to eight children playing blind man's bluff. Cornelis Schut rendered this energetic scene sometime between 1618 and 1655. Editor: Energetic is an understatement! My first impression is that it seems almost brutally… joyous? So many fleshy little bodies scrambling about. A real baroque bacchanal of babies. I feel like I’ve stumbled into some forbidden revelry. Curator: Absolutely. The Baroque, known for its dramatic flair, certainly comes alive here. But, you know, behind all the cherubic chaos there’s a lot going on socially. This era sees the rise of genre painting, really capturing everyday life… idealized as it might be. But, I think it serves to illustrate how society has structured these rituals. Editor: How so? Is it that blind man's bluff becomes a microcosm of the world, complete with hierarchies and the disadvantaged literally stumbling around? Or, could we also question the very nature of ‘innocence’ when childhood is presented as something bordering on a carnal free-for-all? Curator: Perhaps both? Think of it—we project innocence onto children, and Schut delivers these chubby imps to poke a bit of fun at those lofty ideals, doesn't he? Note also how each cupid embodies a role: aggressor, guide, the confused and disoriented... it creates tension. There’s more narrative sophistication than one might first give credit. Editor: I completely agree about the sophistication; the artist uses line-work to create depth despite it being an engraving and offers so many possible narratives simultaneously. It really opens up a whole range of considerations about how children navigate societal structures. Even now in a very different environment, doesn't it? Curator: That’s what I love about Schut; this image manages to make the complexities of human nature so disarmingly adorable. Editor: A provocative sweetness, indeed. A great work that lets you see the world and the stage we construct so readily with new eyes.