De sibylle van Samos 1528 - 1583

This anonymous engraving depicts the Sibyl of Samos, a prophetess from Greek and Roman tradition. Produced in the Netherlands, we can probably date this image to the 16th century, when the rediscovery of classical antiquity went hand in hand with the rise of printmaking. Note how the figure of the Sibyl is updated according to contemporary fashion. This image is as much about the culture of its own time as it is about the classical world. Prints like this circulated widely, and were collected in albums by members of the upper middle classes. This reminds us that the circulation and consumption of images is conditioned by social forces, and that even apparently religious or historical images have a social context. The historian is concerned not only with what images represent, but with the conditions of their production and consumption. We can consult inventories, account books, and other archival documents to get a better picture of this. By doing so we can begin to see the social life of art.