Twee lachende jongens 1743 - 1800

Pieter Louw made this mezzotint, Two Laughing Boys, sometime in the 18th century. The image presents a study in contrasts, both formal and social, that would have resonated with viewers at the time. The chiaroscuro effect, with its dramatic play of light and shadow, was a popular technique, but here it serves a deeper purpose. The darker-skinned boy, possibly of African descent, takes center stage, his boisterous laughter and turban marking him as ‘exotic’ within Dutch society. Meanwhile, the fair-skinned boy is partially obscured. The racial hierarchy of the Netherlands, a major colonial power with extensive slave trading operations, is shown here, with a kind of troubling playfulness. As historians, we must ask ourselves how visual imagery helped perpetuate inequalities. It may also be of interest to delve into shipping records, colonial archives and plantation inventories to deepen our understanding of this unsettling piece.