Stamvaders Zebulon en Issachar 1585 - 1643

Johann Sadeler I created this engraving, "Stamvaders Zebulon en Issachar," sometime between 1570 and 1600. In it, we see Zebulon, traditionally associated with seafarers, posed with nautical attributes - an anchor and a boat on the sea. Issachar, by contrast, appears as a weary traveler with his donkey, embodying the biblical association with laborers. Produced in the Netherlands during its Golden Age, it’s interesting to consider how this image might have been viewed at the time. The Dutch Republic was flourishing economically, particularly through maritime trade. Sadeler’s juxtaposition could be interpreted as a reflection on the different types of labor that contributed to the nation’s prosperity. Is Sadeler making a statement about the social hierarchy? Does he suggest that one type of labor is more noble than the other? To understand the image better, one could delve into emblem books popular at the time, or examine the economic policies of the Dutch Republic. This would allow us to unravel the complex social and cultural context in which this work was produced.