Deez' heer neemt afscheid van zyn vrouw; Zyn zoontje hem wel volgen wou 1761 - 1804

Curator: This print, "Deez' heer neemt afscheid van zyn vrouw; Zyn zoontje hem wel volgen wou," made sometime between 1761 and 1804 by Hermanus Numan, showcases an interesting use of engraving to depict a domestic scene. I'm particularly interested in how the materials and techniques used shape our understanding of this era’s social values. Editor: Yes, it's quite detailed! There is so much texture to appreciate, given that it’s just an engraving. How can we interpret the subject matter of departure or leaving, in this work, using materials as an approach? Curator: Precisely. Consider the accessibility of printmaking at this time. Engravings like these were more readily available to a wider audience than, say, oil paintings. Therefore, what kind of narratives are they constructing and disseminating? Think about it – a husband departing, the clinging child, the somber wife. What message does the production and distribution of *this* scene promote about family roles, duty, and even commerce? Editor: So you're saying the *medium itself* played a role in shaping societal ideas about family? Curator: Absolutely! Engraving facilitated the mass production of such images, normalizing certain behaviors. Moreover, notice the fine lines. Does that contribute to how this image was perhaps made as more precious and carefully crafted versus some form of protest or subversive agenda, but one celebrating it? Editor: That makes me wonder, was Numan making a social commentary through accessible and reproducible materials, or was it for popular demand that his shop sold these types of images? Curator: It's a constant negotiation between artistic intention, material constraints, and market demands. By looking closely at the "how" and "why" this image was made and consumed, we get a much richer sense of 18th-century Dutch culture. Editor: Right, I hadn't really thought about prints having their own socioeconomic agency. This has opened my eyes to thinking about materials with that awareness. Curator: Glad to help! Now, go forth and question the materiality of everything you see!