Het Gezicht: oude man met bril 1679 - 1717

Abraham de Blois created this etching, titled ‘The Face: Old Man with Spectacles’, sometime between 1679 and 1717. De Blois lived in a society marked by strict social hierarchies, and his work often reflected the lives of ordinary people. Here, we see an elderly man, absorbed in cleaning what appears to be a tankard. His posture is somewhat hunched, his garments simple, and his spectacles suggest a life of labor or study that has strained his eyes. A sleeping dog rests at his feet. The image invites us to reflect on the dignity of labor, and the quiet moments of daily life that often go unacknowledged. De Blois elevates a common scene to a level worthy of artistic attention. He seems to suggest that everyone's story is worth telling, that even in the most humble of lives, there is beauty and value to be found. It is a tender reminder of the humanity we share, regardless of social status or occupation.