Heelmeester 1695

Editor: Here we have Cornelis Dusart's etching, "Heelmeester," created around 1695 and now held at the Rijksmuseum. The scene is rather chaotic! A man is being forcibly attended to by what I presume is a doctor while another seems to assist... somewhat reluctantly. The expressions are quite dramatic. What jumps out at you? Curator: The dramatic interplay of light and shadow certainly structures the composition. Observe how the artist modulates the density of hatching and cross-hatching to define forms and create a sense of depth. It seems we are in an enclosed area, perhaps a domicile? Editor: Yes, there’s definitely a sense of enclosure, almost claustrophobia. But tell me more about the forms created with the hatching; is there some kind of pattern or structure within that? Curator: Indeed. The strategic use of horizontal lines accentuates planes moving back in space, notice how these create the interior space and create linear perspective. Vertical and diagonal marks establish form within. This considered application results in complex values of dark and light across the printed surface. We might say it creates texture on a rather uniform material. What do you observe in the distribution of forms in the picture space? Editor: The way the figures cluster in the center draws all the focus there. It seems like everything radiates from the struggle in that small area. Does that add to the overall sense of tension and discomfort in the etching? Curator: Precisely. The clustering also focuses attention to the artist's mark-making, emphasizing the level of detail, and perhaps his skills at evoking emotion using relatively limited technical resources. What this reminds us of is art's potential power, even on a smaller, more intimate scale like an etching. Editor: This close visual examination gives us an expanded vocabulary with which to articulate artwork, so thanks!