Minerva 1596

Hendrick Goltzius made this print of Minerva in 1596, using engraving with etching. Goltzius was a leading printmaker in the Netherlands, a region then experiencing a cultural and economic boom. Here, Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, sits enthroned on the clouds. We can see the accoutrements of war surrounding her oval frame: shields, swords and bagpipes. She holds a spear and shield, the latter emblazoned with the head of Medusa, and is accompanied by her owl, a symbol of knowledge. But there is also an unsettling ambiguity. Traditionally, Minerva was also associated with crafts, weaving, and the arts. Does Goltzius’ image, made during a period of significant cultural achievement in the Netherlands, suggest the importance of war in stimulating artistic and intellectual activity? To better understand, scholars consult period texts, material culture, and the history of printmaking. The meaning of an artwork such as this is always contingent on its historical context.