Element aarde als kind met schaal met fruit en groenten voor korenveld in ovaal 1648 - 1706

This print, made by an anonymous artist, depicts the element of earth as a child holding a basket of fruit and vegetables. The image, titled "Terra," reflects the 17th-century European fascination with allegorical representations of the natural world. The choice to personify earth as a child is significant, reflecting a culture deeply rooted in both classical mythology and Christian symbolism. The image is replete with visual codes such as the overflowing basket which conveys abundance and fertility, reflecting the earth's capacity to provide sustenance. It was made in a time when European society was highly stratified, and access to resources was unevenly distributed. This image reinforces the social and institutional structure of the time. To understand this print more fully, one might consult emblem books or treatises on natural philosophy from the period. These resources reveal the complex web of meanings that informed the creation and reception of such images, reminding us that art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.