Staande man 1728 - 1789

This is a small etching of a standing man by Jacob Hoolaart. The work probably dates from the mid-18th century, when Hoolaart was active in the Northern Netherlands. The image presents a figure of modest social standing. Etchings like this were not fine art as we think of it today. The production of prints allowed for the relatively cheap reproduction of images, which in turn shaped the circulation of information and the dissemination of cultural values. Prints could serve many purposes from decoration to political commentary. It would be interesting to know how Hoolaart’s prints were distributed. Was he selling them on the street himself, or were they available through a print shop or circulating amongst members of a particular social group? To fully understand the meaning and purpose of this etching, further research into the artist’s biography and the print culture of the 18th-century Netherlands would be invaluable.