Emblemata met rotsen en brandende harten 1697 - 1718

Anthonie de Winter created this print, "Emblemata met rotsen en brandende harten," sometime between 1663 and 1707, now held at the Rijksmuseum. During this time, emblem books, which combined images with symbolic texts, were popular across Europe. De Winter’s print features a series of vignettes framed by ornate borders, each presenting a moral or allegorical message. The images invoke themes of perseverance, love, and spiritual devotion, common in the Dutch Golden Age which saw both tremendous economic growth and strict Calvinist religious views. Notice how the rocks and burning hearts appear as metaphors for the trials and passions of human life. Consider the context of the Dutch Republic, a society shaped by trade, religious reform, and intellectual exchange. Emblem books like this one served as a visual language, teaching viewers how to interpret the world through a lens of faith and morality. In what ways do you think these emblems reflect the values and beliefs of their time?