De Fransman en de Hollander, 1673 1673

This anonymous etching, "De Fransman en de Hollander," was made in 1673 and now resides in the Rijksmuseum. At its heart lies a table laden with cheeses, fruits, and utensils, a stage for the drama unfolding between the Frenchman and the Dutchman. The cheese is not merely food; it's a symbol of abundance and contention. Across time and cultures, such symbols of plenty become battlegrounds of desire and conflict. Consider the Golden Apples of Hesperides, a symbol of immortality, fought over by mythological heroes. Here, the cheese embodies a collective desire, a life force that fuels both commerce and conflict. These motifs resonate with a primal energy, a visceral connection to our needs and desires. It is not merely a depiction of a historical moment, but an engagement with the enduring human drives of sustenance, competition, and survival. We are drawn into the scene through our own subconscious recognition of these basic drives.