Solomon Building the Temple, from The Story of Solomon 1554

Maarten van Heemskerck created this print, "Solomon Building the Temple," in the Netherlands, sometime in the 16th century. It depicts the biblical King Solomon overseeing the construction of the great temple in Jerusalem. But look closer: what does it tell us about the Netherlands at that time? See the monumental architecture, the classical columns and arches? Heemskerck is showing off his knowledge of Renaissance design, signaling the Netherlands' place in a Europe-wide culture of artistic and intellectual revival. Consider, too, the laborers in the print. This image elevates manual labor, suggesting the dignity of work. Was Heemskerck commenting on social structures of his own time? Did he intend to critique the church, the monarchy, the wealthy? To really understand the print, we'd want to research the artist's life, the history of the printing press, and the role of the Bible in the 16th-century Netherlands. The meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it's made.