Vier studies van voeten 1672 - 1711

Editor: Here we have Augustinus Terwesten's "Four Studies of Feet," an etching dating from somewhere between 1672 and 1711, here at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me most is the artist's anatomical focus. What do you see in this work? Curator: The foot, traditionally, has represented the most base or earthly aspects of the human experience. However, in this etching, there is a certain elegance. The way the artist renders these studies transforms something pedestrian into objects of beauty and contemplation. Doesn’t this remind you of classical sculptures? Editor: Yes, I can see that. Do you think the artist was perhaps elevating the mundane, imbuing it with a sense of classical grandeur? Curator: Precisely! The foot, often overlooked, becomes a focal point. It reflects the human journey, and stands upon the earth to explore, grounded yet yearning. Terwesten provides these often hidden images of everyday existence into almost archetypal symbols of human existence. What do these individual, somewhat anonymous feet represent to you? Editor: That's really interesting. I hadn’t considered them as anything other than anatomical studies, but now I see how the artist elevates these feet almost to symbols. They look monumental! Curator: This interplay— between the intimate and the grand—that's the power of symbols, isn't it? These feet support a deeper narrative that silently guides us, even today. Editor: Absolutely. It's amazing how a seemingly simple drawing can carry such complex cultural weight. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: And thank you, for offering fresh eyes. Looking at art is a never-ending exchange, ever dynamic and always growing in its resonance.