Vliegende faam 1810 - 1817

Frédéric Théodore Faber created this etching, entitled "Vliegende faam", at the beginning of the 19th century. Here we see the personification of fame in a Dutch take on the classical style. The winged figure trumpets their achievements while dropping celebratory laurel wreaths in their wake. In the Netherlands during this period, there was a thriving industry in producing prints for decorative and commemorative purposes, often distributed and sold through established networks of printmakers and publishers. One might consider the role of institutions like the "Felix Meritis" society in Amsterdam, which promoted arts and sciences, as a backdrop to the creation and consumption of such imagery. Was this celebratory image meant to promote or reflect a particular sense of national pride? To understand the cultural meanings embedded here, we might turn to period dictionaries of symbols or study the illustrated books that were circulating at the time. The meanings of art are always tied to specific social and institutional settings.