Tuinvaas met Mars, Hercules en Vader Tijd after 1724

Georg Lichtensteger created this print, "Tuinvaas met Mars, Hercules en Vader Tijd," depicting a garden vase, sometime in the 18th century. The imagery is densely allegorical, a symbolic language popular during the Enlightenment. In this scene, we see not just a vase but a representation of martial power. Hercules and Mars, figures of strength and war, stand alongside Father Time, who seems to be guiding or witnessing their actions. This juxtaposition suggests a commentary on the relationship between time, power, and military might. Is Lichtensteger critiquing the destructive nature of war or is he presenting an idealized vision of strength and historical continuity? The garden setting, juxtaposed with the war-like imagery, complicates the reading. Gardens were often symbols of order and civilization. This print invites us to reflect on how societies balance their aspirations for peace and order with the realities of conflict and change.