Het Gezicht 1670 - 1713

Editor: Pieter Schenk’s drawing, "Het Gezicht," created sometime between 1670 and 1713, really strikes me. It looks like a quick pen and charcoal sketch, but it captures so much personality in this one man absorbed in his reading. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I'm drawn to the materiality of the piece – the pen and charcoal laid on the page. Consider the social context: printmaking like this made images accessible. Notice the man’s glasses and the paper he holds. Were spectacles becoming a commodity, signaling literacy? Was reading becoming more democratized during the Dutch Golden Age? How would these factors influence artistic choices and production? Editor: That’s fascinating, I hadn't considered how widespread access to reading materials might be influencing the art world! What’s the significance of the piece being called 'The Face' ('Het Gezicht')? Curator: A straightforward title shifts our attention to Schenk’s labor. “The Face,” specifically rendered with pen and charcoal, not oil on canvas – challenges conventions. Is Schenk commenting on portraiture itself? Editor: I guess framing it in terms of accessible materials makes me realize that the drawing is as much about its cultural context, materiality and labor as it is about portraying someone’s character. Curator: Exactly. Considering the economic and technological conditions of its making enriches our understanding beyond just aesthetics. Editor: Thanks for sharing your perspective, I have much to think about in considering Schenk's artistic and social context!