Het zintuig Reuk 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk’s etching, "Het zintuig Reuk," made around 1700, is heavy with symbolism relating to the sense of smell and, perhaps, to the human condition itself. The central motif is the act of attending to a child's foot. It could be interpreted in the classical motif of the foot washing ritual. The faces of the figures, contorted in expressions of either disgust or amusement, suggest a deeper psychological interplay. They remind me of similar expressions found in depictions of grotesque festivals during the Renaissance, moments where societal norms are inverted, revealing underlying anxieties. The pipe smoker in the background is reminiscent of depictions of philosophers or scholars, suggesting contemplation. This symbol recurs across various eras. Consider the skull, also, on the floor. Death is an eternal presence, a reminder of mortality that seeps into every moment, even the mundane. These symbols transcend mere representation, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, evoking feelings of discomfort, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of morbid fascination. These images are not linear, but cyclical, resurfacing and evolving.