XXXIII Een vat vol en bomt niet 1614

This image, "XXXIII Een vat vol en bomt niet," was made by Roemer Visscher sometime before 1620. It is an illustration from a book of emblems, a popular genre in the Dutch Golden Age. Emblems were designed to convey a moral or philosophical message through a combination of image and text, intended to be witty and thought-provoking. Here we see a hand holding a hammer, poised to strike a barrel, but the Dutch text tells us that "a full barrel does not boom". This suggests that those who are full of knowledge and wisdom do not make a lot of noise. The image likely comments on the social structures of the time, perhaps critiquing the behavior of merchants or scholars. As an art historian, I would look to other emblem books and contemporary social commentaries to better understand the cultural context of this image. By studying the history of Dutch print culture and popular morality, we can unlock the meanings embedded in this fascinating artwork.