Man en een vrouw leren een jongen over de sterren en de maan
1746 - 1788
Medium
paper
Dimensions
136; 103
About this artwork
collector's mark: Lugt 240
Art Historical Context
In this delicate drawing titled *Man en een vrouw leren jongen over de sterren de maan* (A Man and a Woman Teach Boy about the Stars and the Moon), Dutch artist Hendrik Numan captures a tender moment of enlightenment. Created during his active years (1746–1788), the work depicts an intimate family scene where adults guide a young boy in contemplating the night sky, reflecting the 18th-century European fascination with astronomy and natural philosophy amid the Enlightenment. Rendered on paper in a compact format—103 mm high by 136 mm wide—the piece showcases the precision of draftsmanship typi...
About the Artist
Hendrik Numan · 1723–1793
Hendrik Numan (1736–1788) was an 18th-century Dutch woodcut artist considered one of the best woodcutters of his generation, known for creating catchpenny prints that entertained and educated the poorer parts of Dutch society. Born in Amsterdam in October 1736, Numan specialized in the often-overlooked medium of woodcut at a time when copper engraving dominated fine printmaking. His father, Lauren...