Politiek, religie, literatuur, krijgskunst en landbouw 1588 - 1595

Johann Sadeler I created this engraving, Politiek, religie, literatuur, krijgskunst en landbouw, whose title translates to politics, religion, literature, warfare, and agriculture, around the turn of the 17th century. Sadeler was part of a family of Flemish engravers who disseminated prints across Europe during the Counter-Reformation. This print encapsulates the era's complex relationship between worldly power and divine authority. We see this tension through the figures representing governance, religion, and intellectual life, set beneath the Madonna and Child. The virgin presents a book, which could allude to her wisdom, but also perhaps, to the church’s doctrine. Consider how the shields and figures blend secular and sacred imagery, reflecting a society deeply shaped by religious conflict and the rise of centralized states. While the print celebrates the foundations of a well-ordered society, it also reveals the power dynamics inherent in its construction, inviting us to reflect on whose interests are truly being served.