Kind met vleugels probeert te vliegen 1628

Christoffel van Sichem II made this woodcut, "Kind met vleugels probeert te vliegen," sometime in the early 17th century. The print depicts a child with wings attempting to fly, while another winged figure soars towards the sun in the distance. Made in the Netherlands, this image comes out of the Northern Renaissance, a period deeply influenced by humanist thought and a renewed interest in classical mythology. This print may be referencing the Greek myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and whose wings melted as a result of his hubris. At the time, the Dutch Republic was undergoing a period of rapid commercial expansion. The image of a child trying and failing to fly could be interpreted as a commentary on human ambition and the dangers of overreach, a theme quite prevalent in the moralizing culture of the time. Understanding this artwork requires delving into emblem books, religious texts, and popular proverbs of the period. Only then can we start to unpack its layered meanings and appreciate its place in the cultural landscape of the Dutch Golden Age.