Het gehoor 1680 - 1715

Editor: So, we’re looking at "Het gehoor," or "The Hearing," an engraving by Pieter Pickaert, created somewhere between 1680 and 1715. There’s something…staged about it, wouldn’t you say? What really strikes you when you look at this work? Curator: Staged, absolutely! Almost like a scene from a play, or perhaps more accurately, an operatic interlude frozen in time. But there's more, isn't there? These genre paintings, popular then, loved to give hints of a more subtle "play," right? The column, her gown... do you notice a specific choice in staging? Editor: Oh! How she’s placed almost center stage while he casually leans on the pillar? Curator: Exactly! His seeming nonchalance, juxtaposed with her active playing... It begs the question, who truly commands this scene? Is she performing for him, or is her music its own force? The Baroque was brilliant at hiding meaning in plain sight... Is her music seducing him or inviting us? It's quite open to interpretation. What feelings surface as you engage with it now? Editor: Now, seeing that contrast…it feels almost like she’s in control. Maybe the ‘hearing’ isn't just about music, but about truly listening, seeing who holds the power. The details are incredible, even in the engraving; I hadn’t noticed the power dynamic until you pointed that out. Thanks! Curator: Art's like a mischievous wink across the ages, isn't it? Each viewing peels back a layer. Always remember it is an act of co-creation between the work and the viewer; a reminder of just how powerful art-- and hearing--can truly be!