1700
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
De Smaek (Taste) is a 1700 ink by Jan Both, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a lively crowd around a woman who’s tasting something from a spoon held by a man. Others lean in, some reaching out, while a musician in a hat plays nearby. The scene feels crowded and full of movement, with rough lines and shadows giving everything texture. The title *De Smaek* (Taste) hints this isn’t just a meal—it’s about judgment or choice. The Dutch text below jokes about picky eaters and sneaky tastes, making it feel like a playful take on how people react to new things. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like Both carved these sharp, detailed lines into metal plates.
Jan Dirksz Both was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher, who made an important contribution to the development of Dutch Italianate landscape painting.
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