Varkens 1636 - 1655

This etching, "Varkens," or "Pigs" was made by Herman van Swanevelt in the Netherlands, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. It gives us a glimpse into the social and cultural life of the Dutch Golden Age. Swanevelt, who spent much of his career in Rome, likely made this small print for a growing art market back home. The image presents a scene of everyday rural life, yet it's carefully composed. We see pigs in a landscape with classical ruins. What does it mean to juxtapose the domestic and the monumental? To picture the classical world as inhabited by farm animals? Perhaps this reflected a growing sense of national identity in the Netherlands, one which understood itself in relation to the great empires of the past. Art historians consult period documents, literature, and social histories to understand the world in which art is created and consumed. Seen in this light, Swanevelt's print offers more than just an image, it provides a window into the social and cultural values of its time.