De Zilveren Eeuw 1589

Hendrick Goltzius made this print, "The Silver Age," in the Netherlands, sometime around 1600. The engraving shows a transition from a golden, abundant past, presided over by Saturn in the clouds, to a more laborious silver age. Goltzius made his name producing prints for a commercial market, and this image reflects the economic conditions of the time, as the Dutch Republic expanded its trading networks. It presents something of an allegory of labor. In the foreground, figures work the land and extract silver from the earth, while in the background, livestock roam freely. The Latin verses below the image tell of a time when humans had to work the land and, because of this, suffered. The print could be seen to reflect on the social changes that were taking place at the time. Researching the print market in the Netherlands at the turn of the 17th century can reveal much about the values and beliefs of its audience.