Man telt munten (het Gehoor) 1659 - 1740

Curator: Here we have a fascinating engraving titled "Man telt munten (het Gehoor)," or "Man Counting Coins (The Sense of Hearing)," likely dating from the Dutch Golden Age, sometime between 1659 and 1740, and attributed to Jan van der Bruggen. Editor: What strikes me immediately is that almost grotesque, yet captivating grin. The artist has really emphasized the details in the face, particularly the almost manic smile, which is juxtaposed by the counting of coins. Is there a symbolic meaning attached to hearing here? Curator: Well, beyond the title indicating that the print is linked to “Hearing” and presumably to a series on the senses, one wonders about the socio-economic realities that this work might reflect. The man's clothing, though rumpled, suggests a certain level of prosperity, likely indicative of Dutch mercantile culture and a societal shift towards money as a means of power. How does the choice of print as a medium factor? Editor: Prints allow for reproducibility. So, perhaps this is a moral tale cautioning against avarice, making it widely available for didactic purposes. Coins historically symbolize wealth but also deception and fleeting fortune. Notice his slightly unfocused gaze, and his rather careless attention to money: perhaps van der Bruggen aims to show that being blinded by avarice brings inner deafness? Curator: Exactly. Engraving, a technique requiring skilled labor and precise execution, seems fitting, given the image depicts counting, labor, and skill. It moves beyond a simple portrait. The controlled lines are almost reminiscent of etching which creates minute gradations which could further comment on how “sense” can also indicate sensibility – making this image not merely about one man. I wonder about the printmaking process and its availability to a wider audience in disseminating such values. Editor: I agree, though I find myself drawn back to the face. The engraving’s quality brings so much character. That rakish hat, those slightly wild eyes – van der Bruggen hints at deeper complexities than simple greed. What cultural nuances within Dutch society might illuminate this man's inner world, or even his relationship with his aural world and external experiences? Is it possible that we perceive this differently given contemporary biases? Curator: It’s those complexities and this relationship between image and its method of production, and thus of access, which really spark the questions about the societal conditions that allow such characterizations to take root, and their broader reach. It shows more than an individual but also reveals a cultural process and societal values that were spread through making. Editor: It certainly leaves us with much to ponder, doesn’t it? It appears that symbols can sometimes hide what process illuminates.