Caritas met drie kinderen 1740

Curator: This is Frederick Bloemaert's "Caritas met drie kinderen," dating back to 1740. The piece on display here at the Rijksmuseum combines etching, drawing in ink, and paper support. Editor: The lines, especially in her drapery, really strike me. They're so precise, yet there's an undeniable softness conveyed, almost like capturing the fleeting moment of a maternal embrace. Curator: Bloemaert comes from a family deeply rooted in the artistic community, so naturally his skills would explore his materials in detail. The labor involved, the physical act of creating that fine line work repeatedly with his materials speaks volumes about baroque sensibilities of artistic craft. Editor: Caritas, as a symbol of charity and love, was quite common in Baroque art. Note the nurturing mother with three children clustered about her. She embodies the traditional icon of selfless giving. Do you get a sense of how many people likely encountered that symbolism then, shaping perceptions and perhaps even behavior? Curator: Absolutely, there would be workshops full of art such as this, replicated again and again, teaching certain values through careful labor and then widely distributed. The consumption and meaning intertwine— consider the kind of paper, the inks used and distributed. What kind of social classes would be privy to view or consume art such as this, and how might their reading of that consumption shape them in the late stages of Baroque art production? Editor: These pieces would probably remind the viewer about their Christian duty. Bloemaert leverages an instantly recognizable iconography; however, the etching and ink medium may soften some of the grandeur. Instead of just a moral lesson, does it bring a sense of shared humanity, perhaps focusing on personal interpretation? Curator: By questioning what is made and how and for whom, hopefully we allow space to include broader populations than the piece initially was able to be distributed. Editor: A look back helps illuminate our present as well as the symbolism surrounding acts of caring endure. It all echoes through time, doesn't it?