Gustus / De Smaak 1620 - 1652

Here we see Cornelis van Kittensteyn’s engraving, ‘Gustus’ or ‘Taste,’ created in the 17th century. Dominating the scene are symbols of earthly indulgence: a monkey feasting, and a luxurious meal set before a noble couple. These motifs speak to the pleasures of the senses, particularly the palate, within the context of a burgeoning Dutch society. The image evokes, for me, echoes of earlier Bacchanalian scenes, where revelry and indulgence blur the lines between human and animal. The monkey, an ancient symbol of imitation and base instinct, reminds us that taste, too, can lead to excess. We see this echoed in Renaissance depictions of the ‘Allegory of Taste,’ but here, the inclusion of the well-dressed couple adds a layer of societal commentary. It suggests a civilization grappling with its own appetites. These symbols, ever-present, continuously resurface, transformed yet carrying the weight of our collective, often subconscious, desires. It is this dance between control and abandon that truly engages us, provoking a deep, perhaps uneasy, recognition of our own human nature.