Horlogekast en drie stroken c. 1631 - 1736

This is a design for a watch case and bands, made anonymously, printed on paper. The central image, a classical depiction of the Holy Family, is framed by strips decorated with foliage and cherubic figures. As a historian, the most striking thing about this print is the contrast between the sacred scene at the center and the commercial purpose it serves. The image is full of familiar motifs, designed to appeal to its audience. A nuclear family, of mother, father and child, is rendered ideal and timeless. This kind of imagery was actively promoted by the Catholic Church from the late middle ages onwards. The historian can interpret this artwork by researching contemporary popular culture. Prints such as this would have been common, and mass production changed the social function of images in ways that require further investigation.