Desiderius Erasmus en David Jorisz. 1708 - 1780

Jacob Houbraken created this red chalk drawing "Desiderius Erasmus en David Jorisz." sometime before his death in 1780; it now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The composition immediately strikes you with its balance of portraiture and symbolic imagery, all rendered in a warm, monochromatic palette. Notice how the artist uses framing devices—ovals and decorative elements—to separate and unite the figures of Erasmus and Jorisz. The textural contrast is also noteworthy: smooth skin tones versus the detailed rendering of fur and scholarly objects. This tension between the tactile and the intellectual invites a deeper reading. Houbraken seems to be engaging in a visual dialogue, where each element functions as a signifier within a carefully constructed system. The inclusion of artist's tools, books, and a bull—juxtaposed with the portraits—creates a semiotic interplay that prompts us to consider the roles of intellect, creativity, and perhaps even sacrifice, within these lives. Consider how Houbraken’s formal choices might destabilize any fixed interpretation, suggesting instead an open field of inquiry.