Fontein met een rond bekken rustend op een vaas 1560 - 1598

This is Wendel Dietterlin’s ‘Fountain with a Round Basin Resting on a Vase,’ a print made in the late 16th century. Dietterlin lived during a period of religious and political upheaval, between the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War, and his work often reflects the anxieties of his time. Here, the fountain isn't just a source of water, it’s a display of power and status. Consider the figures adorning the fountain. They're not merely decorative. They are representations of classical mythology and power, reflecting the social hierarchy of the time. The masculine figure at the top, who seems to be striking the orb with a hammer, is juxtaposed with the female figures at the bottom who seem to be guarding the fountain. The tension here embodies the era’s perception of gender roles and the complex interplay between dominance and submission. Through his art, Dietterlin invites us to reflect on the societal structures and artistic traditions of the past, while prompting us to question the values and power dynamics that continue to shape our present.