Lachende en huilende gezichtsuitdrukking 1692 - 1711

Editor: Here we have Pieter Schenk’s “Laughing and Crying Facial Expressions,” a drawing in ink on paper created somewhere between 1692 and 1711. It's currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me immediately is how minimalist it is, just these stark depictions of emotion. What do you see in it? Curator: Well, I find myself pondering the nature of emotion itself. It feels almost scientific, doesn’t it? Like a study of anatomy, but for feelings. And consider the context: the Baroque period, known for its drama, yet Schenk gives us these spare, almost clinical observations. Is he dissecting emotion, or simply presenting it for our contemplation? It makes one wonder, doesn't it? Are these true reflections, or merely performances? Editor: I see what you mean, like he’s holding up a mirror to different facets of human nature itself. But performance is interesting - I guess theatre was quite central at the time. So maybe these were meant to serve as guidelines for actors? Curator: Precisely! Or even for artists themselves, seeking to portray emotion accurately. Think of it as an actor’s manual, or perhaps a character study for aspiring painters, distilled into the barest of lines. So, really a quite profound work, given its simplicity, don't you agree? Editor: Absolutely! I hadn't considered the theatrical connection so explicitly, but it frames the work in a whole new light for me. Curator: I find that by allowing it to echo my own responses, I feel I’m allowed to approach the drawings from Schenk more deeply. Almost makes me feel as though he's one step closer to a modern psychologist. A true precursor of the inner landscape. Editor: I love that—precursor of the inner landscape! Thanks, I’ll be thinking about this work differently from now on.