Gebochelde pijproker 1645 - 1706

This etching, by Cornelis Saftleven, depicts a character identified as ‘De Reuck’ or ‘The Smell’, caught in the act of smoking a pipe. The pipe itself is a symbol, not just of leisurely consumption, but of cultural exchange, a conduit between the Old and New Worlds, where tobacco use was first encountered by Europeans. Consider how the act of smoking has been portrayed across time. In earlier Northern European art, figures like peasants might be shown with pipes, a sign of their earthiness. Here, the figure’s exaggerated features align him with grotesque imagery. This exaggerated nose and the act of inhaling smoke are emphasized, evoking a strong sense of smell. The figure carries the attributes of a wandering jester – a bauble hat, and a sword, signifying folly, and perhaps mockery. It connects to older themes of the ‘fool’ in art and literature, embodying the lower instincts. This fool resurfaces time and again, a reminder of the irrational, the base, elements within us all, constantly adapting to reflect the anxieties and preoccupations of the day.