Touch, from the Five Senses 1596

Cornelis Drebbel created this engraving, "Touch, from the Five Senses," sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. The image presents an allegorical figure representing the sense of touch, surrounded by symbolic elements. It's worth considering how the image creates meaning through visual codes of its time. This print hails from the Dutch Republic, a period marked by its burgeoning trade and a rising merchant class, as well as new scientific discoveries. The choice of a classical allegory perhaps reflects the cultural aspirations of the Dutch elite who wished to align themselves with the cultural capital of earlier empires. But the presence of a serpent and what looks like a tortoise is perhaps meant to serve as a moral warning against the potential dangers of physical contact, which might speak to the Republic's conservative social values. Historical resources, such as emblem books and moral treatises, would further illuminate the artwork’s meaning. It's important to remember that the meaning of art isn't fixed but evolves with its social and institutional context.