Vier voeten waarvan een met sandaal 1773

Jean François Janinet created this study of feet in the 18th century using etching. The composition is immediately striking for its almost scientific arrangement: four views of feet, each meticulously rendered with a focus on anatomical detail and the play of light and shadow. The use of contour etching, combined with hatching to model depth, gives the feet a sculptural presence. Note how the artist employs a limited color palette to create a sense of volume and texture, drawing our attention to the form rather than any narrative context. This approach aligns with the Enlightenment’s interest in observation and classification. Each foot is isolated, allowing for a detailed study that transcends mere representation, becoming an exploration of form. Janinet reduces the body to a collection of distinct components. It is in this deliberate fragmentation that the work finds its power, inviting us to reconsider the relationship between the part and the whole.