Keisnijder (het Gevoel) 1670 - 1800

This is an anonymous print titled "Keisnijder (het Gevoel)." The stark monochromatic palette immediately draws us into a world of intense sensation. We see two figures closely cropped, one hunched over the other. The upper figure, presumably the "keisnijder" or stone cutter, is extracting something from the head of his patient. Observe how the artist uses contrasting textures to heighten the drama. The stone cutter’s face is etched with fine lines, a mask of concentration. In contrast, the patient’s face is contorted, his mouth agape and eyes bulging. The composition is carefully structured to maximize the tension between the two figures. The stone cutter’s hands frame the patient’s head, almost as if he is the surgeon manipulating the subject. The print invites us to think about the nature of pain, perception, and perhaps even the act of artistic creation itself. Art here becomes a form of surgery, cutting away at the surface to reveal something deeper. The print remains a compelling exploration into the material and metaphorical dimensions of human experience.