Paar schrikt van een bliksemschicht 1751 - 1816

Reinier Vinkeles created this etching titled 'A Couple Startled by Lightning' using etching techniques. The composition is immediately striking: a scene disrupted by light. Vinkeles orchestrates a complex play of illumination and shadow, with stark lines defining the couple's startled reactions against the domestic interior. Notice how the zigzagging lines of the window frame and the piercing rays of light create a visual tension, heightening the sense of chaos. The artist's work engages with the 18th-century fascination with the sublime, where intense experiences, like a lightning strike, provoke both terror and awe. The composition and sharp contrasts in this print do more than depict a mere moment of surprise; they attempt to capture the viewer's own sense of disruption and emotional intensity. The deliberate use of light and shadow challenges our perception, inviting us to consider the fine line between order and chaos, security and fear. This artwork serves as a reminder that even within the most familiar settings, the unexpected can shatter our sense of reality.