Landscape with Zipphorah and her Son, from Six Landscape Subjects from the Old Testament 1650 - 1660

Anthonie Waterloo created this etching, "Landscape with Zipphorah and her Son", as part of a series of Old Testament scenes in the Dutch Republic. But let's consider why a Dutch artist turned to the Old Testament for inspiration. During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic experienced a cultural and economic boom. Artists sought new ways to express national identity and values, turning to biblical narratives that resonated with their own experiences of struggle and liberation from Spanish rule. Waterloo's landscapes often depict everyday life, but this one references the story of Moses' wife Zipphorah, whom we see along the lower right of the image, protecting her son. The bridge may symbolize the crossing from the old to the new covenant, and is indicative of the complex relationship between visual culture and religious belief in the Dutch Golden Age. To truly understand this etching, one must delve into the social and religious history of the Netherlands. Scholarly resources from the period will uncover a wealth of information that contextualizes the art of the time.