Drinkende man 1876

Curator: So, here we have "Drinkende man," or "Drinking Man," an etching made in 1876 by Piet Verhaert. What’s your take? Editor: It’s...intimate, I suppose. A rather tipsy fellow, head tilted back, truly committing to that brew. Gives me a bit of second-hand relaxation, actually. A well-deserved pause, maybe. Curator: Precisely. The realism lends a certain...everyman quality. The way Verhaert captures the set of his shoulders, the casual hand in his pocket--it all speaks of a familiar weariness. Editor: You can almost hear the satisfied gulp. The roughness of the etching technique, those scratchy lines, feels so immediate, as if Verhaert captured him in a quick, almost surreptitious sketch. The use of line defines all the contours of the figure but I would describe his style as impressionistic more than realist. Curator: It’s definitely lively! Though there's a contrast. He’s indulging in this very physical act, but his gaze is unfocused, lost perhaps in contemplation, escaping his everyday. Editor: Absolutely, that contrast pulls you in, doesn’t it? The solid, weighty beer mug against that unfixed gaze… What is it they say about alcohol and the artistic spirit? It must give him solace! A world outside, with beer as its access ramp! Curator: Ha! Or perhaps a commentary on the working man, seeking small pleasures, temporary liberation. We should remember that, at the time, these images served also for illustrating newspapers and books, spreading stories. Editor: Fair point, setting aside romantic notions! So, a momentary respite from a tough world. It’s powerful how a few etched lines can evoke such a complex narrative. Verhaert wasn’t just depicting a drinking man, was he? Curator: He gave him a soul. I wonder how often those ephemeral instants count when the final judgements are pronounced. What do you make of the realism as a genre, and its decline afterwards? Editor: And somehow, captured perfectly with the artist's swift strokes, this very fleeting moment takes hold of us even today. And makes us reflect on ours, on his, and how human we both are... Thank you!