Schoolmeester versnijdt zijn pen 1655 - 1700

Jan van Somer’s etching, “Schoolmeester versnijdt zijn pen,” created sometime between 1655 and 1700, depicts a scene of education. The image shows a schoolmaster preparing a quill for a student. The schoolmaster, seated at a table, carefully snips the end of the feather, while the student leans forward intently, ready to begin writing. The scene captures the quiet focus of a classroom and the importance of the art of writing in a 17th-century Dutch context. The etching, measuring 251 mm x 199 mm, is executed in delicate lines and shadows, creating a sense of depth and realism.