De mensheid moet alles aanleren 1563

Philips Galle made this engraving, "De mensheid moet alles aanleren", sometime in the late 16th century in the Netherlands. Galle was a printmaker and publisher in Antwerp, a center for artistic production and trade at the time. The image depicts a scene of human development, with figures representing the stages of learning and growth. These are contrasted with the independence of animals. It is a visual commentary on the nature of education and human potential. In Northern Europe at this time, the rise of humanist thought emphasized the importance of education and self-improvement. Galle’s engraving reflects this cultural value, portraying learning as a necessary process for human advancement. Art historians would examine period texts on education, and study the visual conventions of Northern Renaissance art to fully understand the print. The meaning of art is something that is contingent on social and institutional context.