Man met een pijp (de Reuk) 1660 - 1743

This print, titled "Man met een pijp (de Reuk)," or "Man with a Pipe (The Sense of Smell)," was created anonymously, using an engraving technique. The man depicted, with his contorted face, isn't just enjoying a smoke; he's embodying the very act of smelling. This work invites us to consider how the senses were perceived, particularly in the context of class and gender. Was scent a privilege, a marker of distinction? How did the act of smelling intersect with societal norms and expectations? Consider the politics of tobacco. The man's disheveled attire and perhaps overly enthusiastic engagement with his pipe complicate a reading of class. Is he savoring a rare luxury, or is there a critique embedded in the image? What feelings does this image evoke in you? Do you find humor, revulsion, or perhaps a bit of both? This print offers us a lens through which to consider the complex interplay between perception, class, and identity.