Festoen van vruchten before 1624

Dietrich Krüger created this etching of a garland of fruit in the Netherlands, sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. At this time, printed images were becoming increasingly common. They fulfilled a variety of social functions, from circulating news to ornamenting the home. This image's delicate detail and naturalistic style reflects the increasing interest in scientific observation during this period. But the image is far from politically neutral. During the Dutch Golden Age, the Netherlands was becoming an increasingly powerful economic force and there was a rising sense of national pride. The image of the garland became associated with prosperity. Prints like this would have been collected and displayed, often bound into books. Images, then as now, helped to shape social values. Understanding this print requires knowledge of Dutch history, the development of printing, and the circulation of images. By studying these contexts, we can better understand the social life of art.