Vader Tijd te midden van scènes met beroepen en bedrijvigheden van de mens 1547 - 1591

This engraving, realized by Gerard de Jode, presents us with an allegorical figure of Father Time amidst a landscape bustling with human activity. The winged figure of Time, draped in classical garb, presides over scenes of labor and leisure, symbolizing the relentless passage of time that governs all human endeavors. The figure of Time, the "winged old man," is a recurring motif throughout history, a symbol that echoes through Ovid's Metamorphoses and Titian's "Allegory of Prudence," where Time is depicted alongside Prudence and Wisdom. In each iteration, the winged figure embodies our collective awareness of mortality, a force that simultaneously creates and destroys. The emotional resonance of this image lies in its stark contrast between human ambition and the indifferent march of Time. It's a visual reminder of our fleeting existence, prompting a deep, often subconscious, contemplation of life's ephemeral nature. This symbol, in its many forms, resurfaces through the ages, constantly reminding us of the cyclical nature of existence.