Cartouche met een citaat van Seneca 1557

This is a print made by Frans Huys in the mid-16th century, during a period of great religious and political upheaval in the Netherlands. The cartouche, adorned with grotesque masks and fruit garlands, frames a quote from Seneca: "We must learn throughout our entire life; what will make you wonder even more is that you learn throughout your entire life until you die". In Huys’ time, the humanist revival of classical thought was in full swing. Seneca, as a Stoic philosopher, offered guidance on how to live a virtuous life amidst chaos, a theme that resonated deeply in the religiously divided Low Countries. The print, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, reflects the complex interplay of art, philosophy, and religious thought in the Dutch Golden Age. Understanding its historical context, through sources like letters, pamphlets, and religious treatises, allows us to appreciate the enduring power of art to provoke thought and reflection.