Schoolmeester berispt een klein meisje 1759 - 1842

Pieter Pietersz. Barbiers made this drawing, Schoolmaster Reprimanding a Little Girl, with graphite. Barbiers created this image in the Netherlands during a time when the Dutch school system was still largely decentralized, and relied upon independent schoolmasters like the one depicted here. We can ask: in what ways might Barbiers’ image of authority reflect, reinforce, or even challenge the prevailing cultural norms and power dynamics of his time? In the drawing, the schoolmaster’s focused gaze and stern demeanor contrasts with the child’s evident distress, creating a palpable sense of tension. The schoolmaster’s desk and chair are rendered with careful detail and emphasizes his position of authority. This work raises questions about the social conditions that shape artistic production, particularly in a context where art served as a tool for moral instruction. To fully understand the meaning of this image, we need to immerse ourselves in the social and institutional context in which it was created.