The Age of Bronze 1589

Hendrick Goltzius created "The Age of Bronze," an engraving, at a time when Northern Mannerism was at its peak. The artwork encapsulates a worldview steeped in classical mythology, viewed through a lens of burgeoning societal change. Here we see a goddess-like figure, likely representing an allegorical personification of the Age of Bronze. She's flanked by scenes of labor and warfare, reflecting the era’s turn toward industry and conflict. This piece raises questions about who benefits from progress and at what cost. Goltzius presents traditional allegorical forms, yet infuses them with a palpable tension reflecting shifts in the social and economic order of his time. He invites us to reflect on humanity’s relationship with progress, asking whether technological advancement truly elevates all of humankind, or merely cloaks new forms of exploitation.