Het Gehoor 1670 - 1713

Editor: Pieter Schenk’s “Het Gehoor,” created sometime between 1670 and 1713, is a striking engraving now housed in the Rijksmuseum. The figure’s sly grin is captivating. What are your thoughts when you look at this print? Curator: The image speaks to the vibrant, and sometimes vulgar, culture of the Dutch Golden Age. Prints like these weren't just art; they were commodities, circulating widely, shaping public perceptions. Notice how the subject is rendered - his knowing gaze, the hint of a smile. Consider the implications of portraying such a figure and entitling it “Hearing” ("Het Gehoor" means The Hearing). Do you think it celebrates a specific type of listener or is more generally a social commentary? Editor: That's a great point. It’s interesting how it suggests hearing isn't just about ears, but maybe about understanding something unspoken. It makes me wonder about the audience. Was this for the wealthy, a kind of satirical peek at the lower classes, or was it popular amongst everyone? Curator: That's precisely the question. Images like these performed social work. On the one hand, it's likely wealthier buyers consumed these prints, but the imagery borrows from and feeds into popular culture. Was it seen as humor, satire, social critique? I'd say likely all of those at once, influencing public perceptions and ideas of class distinctions. Editor: So the image acts almost as a mirror, reflecting and shaping society's views. I'm starting to see how something that looks like a simple portrait holds so much more depth! Curator: Precisely! It's through this wider social and historical context that we can truly appreciate the role this type of print had in its day. I think this conversation really underscored the political work of images. Editor: Definitely. I now understand how important it is to look beyond just the art itself. Thanks for opening my ears and eyes!