De Reuk: pijprokende man 1670 - 1724

Editor: Here we have Jacob Gole’s “The Sense of Smell: Man Smoking a Pipe,” dating sometime between 1670 and 1724. It's an engraving and, to me, there's something immediately captivating about the contrast between the light and shadow here. What aspects of its composition stand out to you? Curator: Indeed. Note first how Gole organizes the formal elements, prioritizing line. See how the figure is structured. How would you describe the composition’s symmetry? Editor: Well, it is off-center; asymmetrical. He is situated to the left and occupies most of the space with his large hat. Curator: Precisely. Consider how this placement affects our reading of the work. It is an engraving, yes, but how does Gole achieve the tonal variation typically found in paintings, using only line? Note the density and direction of those lines, particularly on the face and the clothing of the subject. Editor: You’re right, there's a deliberate use of hatching and cross-hatching to build up tone and create a sense of volume. The light seems to be carefully directed to enhance these contrasts. Are these visual elements meant to create an overall message? Curator: That is an important question. Given the formal aspects of the artwork, can you determine what role they might have had with the art historical moment and perhaps reveal information about Dutch genre painting? Editor: Thinking about the structure now, how the asymmetry focuses the gaze and enhances the subject's relaxed yet engaged posture, alongside those linear textures giving volume… the artwork comes across as a contemplative study of both form and fleeting moment. It makes the engraving technique less of a means and more of a feature, something integral. Curator: It is always a challenge to extract layers of understanding about the work’s structure!