Inleyding tot de Hooge Schoole der Schilderkonst (Introduction to the Noble School of Painting)

Samuel van Hoogstraten

National Gallery of Art

This is a print depicting various people on a stage, casting dramatic shadows on the walls. In the bottom left corner, the dark silhouettes of people watch the stage, which stretches diagonally across the scene. A thin arched pole hangs down on the stage, under which three people are gathered, two standing and one sitting, working with a hammer. On the left of the stage are three people dancing together, one person in the center with horns in mid-step, and a person on the right standing next to a goat. There are also two winged cherubs hanging from strings above the dancing figures. The shadows of these people are projected onto the wall or screen behind them, and the shadows of the three people under the arch are massive, taking up most of the print. The backdrop features faint outlines of vegetation, clouds, and a coat of arms. On the right edge, several people peek out from behind the backdrop.