Man met een leeg glas (de Smaak) 1659 - 1740

Jan van der Bruggen’s monochrome print, "Man met een leeg glas (de Smaak)", presents an intense study in contrasts and textures. The composition, dominated by the figure’s expressive face, invites an immediate, visceral reaction. Observe how the artist uses light and shadow to sculpt the man’s features, the deep blacks of his hat and eyes set against the stark white of his teeth. This contrast is not merely descriptive; it’s a semiotic device, creating a visual push and pull that animates the image. The rough texture of the printmaking enhances the raw, unfiltered emotion conveyed. Van der Bruggen uses the form to destabilize established meanings. Is this a celebration of simple pleasures or a commentary on the emptiness of sensory experience? This ambiguity is crucial. The empty glass becomes a signifier, open to multiple interpretations, challenging fixed notions of value and satisfaction. Ultimately, the work’s power lies in its formal structure, prompting us to question the relationship between form and content.