Tactus / Het Gevoel 1620 - 1652

Cornelis van Kittensteyn's "Tactus," crafted around the 17th century, captures the allegory of touch through an intimate scene. A couple embraces, their proximity symbolizing physical contact, while in the background, an elderly woman by the window adds a voyeuristic element, hinting at the hidden desires and societal constraints. The motif of touch, as seen here, echoes through art history, reminding us of classical sculptures depicting Venus reaching out or even religious paintings of Mary Magdalene’s gesture towards Christ. Consider Caravaggio's use of light to highlight skin in "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas," this, too, speaks to our deep-seated psychological fascination with physical connection. The sense of yearning and longing we see in Kittensteyn's engraving taps into something timeless and universal. The symbol resurfaces, reshaped by each era's anxieties and expectations, a constant reminder of our primal need for connection and the complex emotions it evokes.