Titelpagina voor: Jan Jansz Starter, Friesche Lust-Hof, 1621 1621

Paulus Aertsz. van Ravesteyn created this title page for Jan Jansz Starter’s "Friesche Lust-Hof" in 1621 using etching. This piece comes from a time when the Dutch Republic was flourishing, with a growing sense of cultural identity expressed through art and literature. Printed in gothic script, the page advertises a collection of poems and comedic farces, promising moral lessons and entertainment. The use of the Dutch language at a time when Latin was still the lingua franca of intellectual life highlights a growing sense of regional pride and the rise of a middle class with a taste for vernacular literature. Consider this page as a gateway into the social life of the Dutch Golden Age, offering a glimpse into the values, humor, and artistic sensibilities of the time. It speaks to the idea of art as a mirror reflecting societal values and desires. This title page invites us to appreciate the nuances of cultural expression in a transformative period of history.