Thomas Jones verjaagt schurken 1749

Jan Punt made this etching, ‘Thomas Jones verjaagt schurken’, its date is unknown. Consider the social role of imagery in the 18th century. This print refers to Henry Fielding’s novel, ‘The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling’. Here, the protagonist, Jones, protects a house from armed thugs, sending them running with only his violin. It’s an endorsement of the idea of the gentleman as protector of the vulnerable. Prints like these were important for the circulation of stories and ideals. In the Dutch Republic, with no Royal court to dictate taste, the open market for art meant artists like Punt could create images for a wide audience, reinforcing social norms and appealing to a sense of shared identity. To understand this piece more fully, look to the literary context of the novel, the history of printmaking, and the economic conditions that supported artistic production in the Dutch Republic. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.