Silenus wordt uit het water getrokken 1656 - 1726

Johannes Glauber made this etching, Silenus wordt uit het water getrokken, at some point during his lifetime, between 1646 and 1726. Glauber has rendered a scene from classical mythology with a network of fine lines. His choice of subject matter places him within a long tradition of artists who looked to classical antiquity for noble themes. The image depicts Silenus, a figure known for his wisdom and propensity for drunkenness, being pulled from a body of water. Consider the cultural value placed on classical learning in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly among the educated elite. Artists were expected to demonstrate their knowledge of classical literature and mythology, and patrons often commissioned works that reflected their own erudition. So, while an apparently straightforward image, this work actually speaks to the cultural values of its time. By studying Glauber's life and the artistic conventions of his era, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and intellectual context in which this etching was created.