Fotoreproductie van een tekening, voorstellende Una tussen satyrs before 1871

This anonymous reproduction of a drawing shows Una, the protagonist of Edmund Spenser's poem "The Faerie Queen," among satyrs. The image brings to life Spenser's allegorical world of knights and ladies, where good and evil are constantly at war. The visual codes employed in the image, such as the satyrs, give meaning through cultural references and historical associations. It was created in a time when the printing press allowed for the wide distribution of literature, shaping popular imagination through accessible art. In the 19th century, the institutional power of the art world had a significant impact on book illustration. Artists were commissioned to create images for popular literary works, contributing to the broader cultural landscape and influencing social perceptions. This image reflects the social structures of its time by using its self-consciously progressive visual language to comment on the moral and cultural values of Victorian society. Understanding this image requires delving into the socio-political context of the 19th century. Scholars might explore the role of literature in shaping national identity and consider the cultural meanings of such literary works.