Zilveren Eeuw 1659

This engraving, "Zilveren Eeuw," or "Silver Age," was made by Nicolaes Cornelisz. Witsen in the Netherlands. The image refers to the Roman poet Ovid’s account of the ages of mankind. Here, we see the transition into the Silver Age, marked by the introduction of agriculture and the hard labor it entails. This print reflects a growing interest in classical literature during the Dutch Golden Age. Witsen translates Ovid’s verses into a visual representation of labor, perhaps commenting on the increasing economic activity within Dutch society, as well as on the traditional classical education given to Dutch elites. To fully understand this work, we might turn to the literary and educational institutions that promoted classical learning at the time. Close attention to those sources can reveal how artists like Witsen engaged with and interpreted classical texts in their own social and cultural context. The meaning of this artwork becomes clearer when seen against the backdrop of the social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.