Jongen leidt blinden 1628 - 1650

Pieter Hendricksz Schut created this etching, titled 'Boy Leading the Blind,' in the 17th century. It’s an image that invites us to consider the complexities of leadership, particularly when societal structures are upended. At first glance, it’s a scene of dependency, but who is truly reliant on whom? Is it the blind men, stumbling across the water, or the young boy, who may lack experience but possesses the gift of sight? The artwork offers a powerful inversion of the traditional power dynamic, where age and experience are typically valued above youth. In the 17th century, marked by religious and political upheaval, this subversion might have resonated deeply. It evokes questions about who we trust, and why. Does the boy represent a new generation, unburdened by the past? Or is he, too, just as likely to lead astray? The emotional tension in this piece lies in its ambiguity; we are left to grapple with the discomfort of uncertainty, both personal and societal.