Het gehoor 1651 - 1719

Curator: Oh, she's utterly charming, isn't she? This piece titled 'Het Gehoor,' or 'The Sense of Hearing,' by Jacob Toorenvliet, I believe done sometime between 1651 and 1719, presents itself as an etching. Immediately, you're met with such compelling intimacy. Editor: It's melancholy, isn't it? Even with that hint of a smile. The shading around her eyes suggests she carries the weight of years. And is it just me, or is there something slightly grotesque, yet beautiful in the lines etched into her face? Curator: I find Toorenvliet's technique particularly intriguing here. Note how he masterfully manipulates the etching lines to convey not just texture but also mood. The stark contrast between the dark background and her illuminated face draws us right in. And 'grotesque,' well, perhaps honest is a gentler way to describe it! Editor: Fair enough! There is definitely an undeniable rawness to the way he captured this woman. But speaking of lines, have you noticed how much the wrinkles around her eyes and mouth contribute to her overall expression? I imagine each of these is a little life story. Also, consider her intense concentration as she looks, presumably reading a book or maybe a letter. I am sure she is paying attention not only with her ears but her soul. It all communicates an engagement beyond the visual; it’s as if she's listening to what is said in this book as much as hearing it. Curator: I completely agree. This speaks volumes of how different the senses relate to and build off of each other! Perhaps Toorenvliet seeks to demonstrate the complex, synergistic reality that listening often comes through hearing—or sight—of a particular medium, to communicate a comprehensive experience of hearing! I wonder about this baroque quality—of course a marker of the age—but do you find it exaggerated here? Or subtle, considering its presentation within genre-painting, so deeply connected to baroque art and sensibility? Editor: Hmm, perhaps it is understated. And the portrait's composition is incredibly engaging. The artist plays with darkness, yes, but it's about what the shadows say in contrast with the subject. Curator: Absolutely. I think what I find most moving is how this simple etching gives life and dimension to this lady. Editor: Agreed, it's more than just lines on paper; it's a palpable echo of a past life. A really powerful moment in capturing not just seeing, but feeling.