Fluitglas met een portret van prins Frederik Hendrik en een gezicht op Den Haag c. 1650 - 1675

This elegant glass, now in the Rijksmuseum, features an etched portrait of Prince Frederik Hendrik and a view of The Hague. Notice the object’s clear, elongated form. The glass extends upward in a slender, conical shape from a solid base. The transparency and subtle etching play with light, creating an ethereal, almost ghostly effect. The artist uses the glass surface as a canvas, layering imagery onto an object that is functional yet elevated to a commemorative piece. The choice of glass is intriguing. It allows for a delicate balance between visibility and concealment. The etched images are visible yet somewhat obscured. This interplay reflects broader concerns about representation and the complex relationship between the visible and the invisible in art. Consider how the artwork's combination of form, function, and representation invites us to consider how meaning is constructed and conveyed.