Spijzen van de hongerigen 1625 - 1629

Editor: "Spijzen van de hongerigen," or "Feeding the Hungry," created between 1625 and 1629 by David Custos. This engraving is currently at the Rijksmuseum. The contrast between the opulence on the upper level and the gaunt figures below really strikes me. What do you see in this piece, especially with that dramatic contrast? Curator: Oh, drama indeed! The Baroque loves a good contrast, doesn't it? This engraving, seemingly a simple scene of charity, whispers so much more, darling. Look closely. The 'haves' dine high above, almost oblivious, while the 'have-nots' are literally at their feet. But is it just about wealth? Is it about spiritual nourishment too? That’s the question it brings to my heart. What kind of bread are they sharing upstairs versus down here, and does this scene hold true for today, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I didn't even consider the spiritual element, only the immediate wealth gap. That does change how I read the expressions! The upstairs figures seem…distant, while there’s a raw desperation downstairs. It's unsettling, like a stage play but far too real. Curator: Exactly! Like a beautifully rendered nightmare! That unsettling feeling is the point. Art, at its best, shakes us. It makes us question our roles in the play, in society. Custos, using this genre scene to maybe imply, are we all doing our bit, maybe offering not bread alone. Look how small it makes the rest of society. And now I ask myself; will I do something to help to? I may even feel the need to become very generous, that's what Art does my friend. Editor: So, it's more than just documenting an act of charity; it's a call to action, and almost a reflection on personal actions? I think I get the Baroque drama now. Curator: A hearty AMEN to that realization. It holds both mirror and a whip. It can do no other.