Hollands ontbijt 1733 - 1797

Pierre François Basan created this print, "Hollands ontbijt," the Dutch breakfast, sometime in the 18th century. A hushed interior scene is rendered in fine lines and delicate shading, immediately drawing us into its intimate space. Notice how the artist uses the architecture to divide the composition. To the right, we see a gentleman bearing gifts. To the left a seated woman. There is an opposition between the figures and the space, as the woman's static pose is mirrored in the chair behind her and the gentleman's stance is reflected in the strong lines of the fireplace. The print hints at the semiotics of social exchange, with details like the sculptural bust over the fireplace suggesting aspirations of classical ideals. The composition directs us to interpret how these symbols might reinforce or challenge societal structures of Basan’s time. The scene destabilizes conventional representations of Dutch domestic life. The artist provokes us to rethink how art reflects, but also shapes, our cultural perceptions.