Man bij dageraad met twee kippen en een mand 1606 - 1669

Louis Spirinx created this etching, "Man at Dawn with Two Chickens and a Basket," sometime in the 17th century. Spirinx lived during a period of significant social stratification, where gender roles were rigidly defined and social mobility was limited. Here, we encounter a young man, but his posture and demeanor challenge traditional notions of masculinity. Instead of presenting a figure of strength or authority, he lounges, almost languidly, alongside his wares. Is this a depiction of the artist himself? How does he see himself in relation to societal expectations? Consider the chickens; are they merely commodities? Or do they hint at the deeper connections between humans and the natural world, suggesting an alternative to the dominant social order? This etching invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between personal identity, societal expectations, and economic realities in the artist's time, and perhaps even our own.