Le souffleur 1784

"Le Souffleur ou le Philosophe Hermetique," a 1784 engraving by Danish artist J.F. Clemens (1748-1831) currently housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts a young child blowing bubbles. The image is framed within an oval and the child is dressed in a simple garment. Their gaze follows a stream of bubbles rising up from the pipe held in their hand, suggesting a sense of wonder and innocence. The engraving's title alludes to the alchemical practice of "blowing" or "infusing" substances with mystical properties, connecting the childlike act of blowing bubbles with Hermetic philosophy. This piece is an example of the Neoclassical art movement and illustrates the influence of Enlightenment ideals on art in the 18th century.