Jongen ontvangt geld van een vrouw 1723 - 1789

Jacob Hoolaart created this mezzotint, "Boy Receiving Money from a Woman," sometime in the 18th century. It depicts a transaction taking place, illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. Hoolaart was working during the Enlightenment, a period that saw shifts in social structures and new ideas about wealth and poverty. This work provides a glimpse into those dynamics. The exchange between the woman and boy raises questions about gender roles, class, and power. Who are these people? What are the circumstances that bring them together in this private moment? The setting is intimate, almost secretive. The faces are etched with a quiet intensity, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of human interaction. The dark tones of the mezzotint, punctuated by the light from the lantern, heighten the emotional tenor of the scene. The artwork functions not just as an image, but as a point of entry into a nuanced historical narrative. We must ask ourselves what the social and personal dimensions of this image mean to us today.