Oude bedelaar 1778 - 1785

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have before us a striking engraving from 1778 to 1785 entitled "Oude Bedelaar," or "Old Beggar," crafted by Noach van der Meer the Younger. It presents a detailed cityscape and falls under the genre painting category. Editor: Ah, my initial impression is a chill – the cool detachment of the well-to-do contrasted with the old man’s almost theatrical plea. The composition neatly divides the scene into zones of wealth and...well, not-wealth. Curator: Precisely. Van der Meer masterfully uses the formal elements to reinforce this division. Note the meticulous lines defining the cobblestones and the architectural precision of the buildings. The rigid geometry emphasizes social structure. Consider also the engraving medium itself; the deliberate control mirroring the controlled society depicted. Editor: Yes, it’s almost clinical in its observation. I see the posture of the beggar; he leans, a supplicant. His out-thrust hand seems to echo the lines of the canal in the background, this idea of distance and barriers... perhaps even desperation? I imagine him weary, bone-cold. It makes you think of all the stories absent from grand histories – lives swept to the side. Curator: The "genre painting" aspect is vital here. Van der Meer elevates a common street scene to something worthy of study. He directs the viewer's gaze with impeccable staging. The artist uses semiotic codes typical of the period, presenting attire as signifiers of class and station. Note how the brighter rendering makes the “well-do-to” almost radiate over the muted tones used to depict the old beggar. Editor: The "theatre" in their dress emphasizes this staged contrast further, creating a tableau of humanity playing out with some real life consequences. It asks, how complicit are we when witnessing this divide, or how we treat another human being when we deem ourselves "better". A question, it seems, just as relevant today. Curator: Indeed, it brings questions on ethics. It demonstrates how art becomes a potent tool for analyzing social relations and power structures, as its form dictates its meaning. Editor: Makes you shiver, doesn't it? All those etched lines... such a cold medium for such a stark reality. It stays with you, this little slice of history. Curator: Yes, its carefully designed elements resonate across the centuries and reveal lasting and pertinent lessons.