Jongen blaast tegen een fakkel van houtskool 1748 - 1768

Philippe Corbutt’s print presents us with a study of light and shadow centered around a boy blowing on a charcoal torch. The stark contrast defines the scene, setting the figure against an almost impenetrable darkness. The image captivates through its strategic use of chiaroscuro, a technique that not only illuminates the subject but also plunges much of the composition into deep, evocative shadows. Corbutt uses the torch as the central motif around which the composition revolves. This is not merely a depiction of a boy with a light, it is also an exploration of how a single source of illumination can shape our perception and understanding of space. The lines of light and shadow form a semiotic interplay, where darkness is as crucial as light in defining form and meaning. The boy’s concentrated expression and the dynamic lines of the smoke introduce an element of psychological depth. The image is more than a visual representation; it prompts considerations about the relationship between visibility and knowledge, and how art mediates our understanding of the unseen.