Afgunst (Invidia) 1619 - 1675

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we're looking at a striking piece by Lucas Vorsterman I, dating from sometime between 1619 and 1675. It's titled *Afgunst*, which translates to *Envy* and is executed with such finesse, a pencil work. Editor: Woah, that expression! Those eyes…they scream malevolence. It’s like the artist caught envy itself in a dimly lit corner and pinned it down. Curator: Notice how Vorsterman uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and texture, even in this small piece. The detail in the subject’s hat, adorned with a serpent, suggests symbolic meaning worth to dwell on. Editor: Absolutely! Serpents are classic symbols of deceit and temptation. The fellow's got a unsettling posture and a rather sinister smirk. Also, there is this random knife stuck in the wooden table... gives a strange vibe. Curator: I would suggest to see the juxtaposition with the seemingly mundane—a simple table and a single sharp instrument—lending an eerie undercurrent to the portrayal of something inherently psychological and internal, a deep examination of emotion through pure rendering technique. Editor: I like that perspective. The darks are so dramatic, and they seem to gather around the figure. All in all, it makes envy something tangible, something almost lurking within arm’s reach. It gives me the creeps, for sure! Curator: I find how Vorsterman distills such a complex and, frankly, unpleasant emotion into a figure so masterfully crafted simply fascinating. Editor: Exactly, to think about such a common vice that everyone knows to exist captured in pure line and form, amazing. This definitely strikes a dark chord, lets me in touch with my own shadows, and the ones from society, too.