Water 1584 - 1603

Jacob Savery the First created this engraving, “Water,” in the late 16th century, a time of significant economic and social change in the Netherlands. Savery's portrayal of a fisher, adorned in garb that obscures gender, raises questions about identity and labor. The figure, laden with fishing tools, stands as a testament to human intervention in nature. In this period, fishing was not merely a means of subsistence but a vital economic activity, enmeshed with the livelihoods of entire communities. The labor is both celebrated and scrutinized, reflecting a society grappling with emerging capitalist structures. The circular composition, inscribed with a Dutch verse, creates an intimate, almost voyeuristic space, inviting us to reflect on our own relationship to labor and environment. The fisher is simultaneously a symbol of self-sufficiency and a cog in a larger economic machine. How does this representation challenge or reinforce the societal norms of its time, as we consider it today?