Huilend kind 1768 - 1796

Curator: This etching is titled "Huilend kind," which translates to "Crying Child," and it was created sometime between 1768 and 1796 by Pieter de Mare. Editor: The overwhelming impression is one of profound sadness. Look at those down-turned eyes and the slumped posture. It almost physically hurts to observe that distress. Curator: What I find intriguing is the way de Mare has chosen etching as his medium. Consider the sheer labor involved in creating these fine lines, building up the shadows to convey the child's distress. Etching, often perceived as a reproductive method, becomes a powerfully expressive tool here. Editor: The child’s garb and positioning seem quite intentional. Given the period and the medium’s popularity in printmaking, could this be aimed at a wider audience, maybe used as a political instrument or commentary on child welfare? Curator: Absolutely, the Baroque period was deeply enmeshed with religious and political tensions. This genre-painting is evocative. While the emotional experience of the subject seems genuine, let’s acknowledge how social position shapes such presentations of children for a rising consumer market. Editor: Precisely! I wonder if the museum setting might affect this art differently than its time of creation. Originally circulated perhaps amongst pamphlets or in private collection settings, seeing this image now through our contemporary eyes could generate totally new interpretations that De Mare never even foresaw. Curator: True, our positioning here at the Rijksmuseum infuses it with new significance. It also allows us to analyze the socio-economic impact this technique had on its contemporary printmakers; they distributed similar sentimental portrayals which would now seem exploitative to today’s audiences given their wide distribution and popular appeal, demonstrating just how pervasive artistic labour can truly impact societal trends Editor: A fascinating glimpse into the social fabric of its time, rendered with palpable emotion. It is clear how history can change even the simplest image through sheer circumstance!