Moeder geeft haar zoon les 1756 - 1817

Louis Bernard Coclers created this etching, titled "Moeder geeft haar zoon les" around the late 18th century. The composition is striking, built upon contrasts of light and shadow. The strong verticals and horizontals of the architecture create a rigid, almost geometric framework, against which the soft curves of the figures are set. The candle serves as more than mere illumination; it's the focal point around which the scene's meaning revolves. It casts light onto the act of reading, symbolizing knowledge, understanding, and the enlightenment of the mind, yet it simultaneously throws the rest of the space into deep shadow, destabilizing the perceived clarity. We might consider how Coclers uses the etching medium to explore the tensions between domestic tranquility and the vastness of ignorance or the unknown. Education, represented here by the candlelight and the book, stands as a fragile beacon against the darkness.