De mens op tienjarige leeftijd 1569 - 1575

Gerard van Groeningen created this print, "De mens op tienjarige leeftijd" whose date is unknown, now held in the Rijksmuseum. Observe the allegory of childhood unfolding before us. At the center, a nurturing figure breastfeeds an infant, embodying the maternal archetype, a symbol of nourishment and growth seen across cultures from ancient goddesses to Renaissance Madonnas. Around her, children play, engaged in games that echo rituals of learning and socialization. These motifs evoke the Lupercalia festival of ancient Rome, celebrating fertility and purification. In the distance, children with hoops remind us of Fortuna and her wheel. Consider how these images resonate with our collective memory, evoking a sense of innocence but also the fleeting nature of youth, a theme explored by artists and poets throughout history. This image serves as a potent reminder of life's cyclical progression and the enduring power of symbols to convey universal truths.