Gehoor 1758 - 1774

Robert Cooper created this print called 'Gehoor' sometime around the late 17th to early 18th century. It is rendered in delicate lines of engraving, immediately drawing our attention to the composition framed by floral arabesques. The artwork's structure emphasizes a central figure, a bell ringer, positioned within a carefully arranged landscape, with the text "L'Ouie" (hearing in French) inscribed at the bottom. This sets up a semiotic interplay, where the visual and textual elements combine to signify the concept of hearing. Cooper uses the bell ringer to engage with the broader philosophical interest in sensory perception. The detailed rendering of the bell ringer, contrasted against the more stylized floral frame, highlights a tension between naturalistic representation and decorative artifice. This contrast invites us to explore how Cooper both adheres to and departs from established artistic conventions, engaging in a visual dialogue that transcends mere aesthetic appeal.