Schilder aan het werk 1675

This is Conrad Meyer's “Schilder aan het werk,” made in the 17th Century. Note how the composition is split horizontally between a scene above and a block of text below. The upper scene portrays an artist in his studio, surrounded by his family on the left and an allegorical painting on the right. Meyer has used hatching and cross-hatching to create form and shadow, giving the scene depth and volume, though it is small in scale. We can read a juxtaposition of art, family, and allegorical representation within the image. In Meyer’s era, art theory often intertwined with moral and philosophical ideas. This image reflects those concerns. The artist's family and the depiction of his craft suggest the dignity of labor and the integration of art into domestic life. The allegorical scene alludes to broader moral or philosophical themes that the artist engages with through his work. Consider how Meyer uses form to blend the personal, the professional, and the symbolic. By doing so, he elevates the role of the artist as someone who not only practices a craft but also embodies cultural and moral values.