Januari (The Star Singers) - Cornelis Dusart

A detailed mezzotint by Cornelis Dusart depicting three figures singing with a star lantern, representing the month of January.

Cornelis Dusart, a pupil of Adriaen van Ostade, produced this mezzotint as part of a series depicting the months of the year. This specific print, representing January, captures the tradition of the Star Singers, or Driekoningenliedjeszangers, who travelled from house to house during the Epiphany season. The figures are depicted with the characteristic expressive, often grotesque, facial features that define Dusart's approach to genre scenes.

The composition centres on three figures, likely children or youths, illuminated by the light of a paper star mounted on a pole. The central figure holds the star aloft, while his companions engage in song, their mouths open in mid-performance. The setting is a cobblestone street, rendered with the soft, tonal transitions typical of the mezzotint process. Dusart utilised the medium to create a range of shadows and highlights, giving the scene a sense of nocturnal atmosphere. The textures of the clothing, the rough stone, and the paper star are differentiated through the varied density of the burr on the copper plate.

Dusart was active in Haarlem and maintained a focus on the lives of the peasantry and the lower classes. His work often reflects the humour and social observations common in Dutch genre art of the late seventeenth century. This print provides a glimpse into the seasonal customs of the period, documenting the festive activities that took place in the winter months. The figures are dressed in contemporary attire, complete with hats and worn garments, which adds to the documentary quality of the work. The print is a fine example of the technical skill required for mezzotint engraving, a process that relies on the manipulation of light and dark rather than traditional line-based etching techniques.