Ornament met sfinxen en klok 1597 - 1667

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut ornament with sphinxes and a clock at an unknown date. This image brings together different cultural and artistic motifs prevalent in the Dutch Golden Age. Clock making was a highly valued craft. Time pieces adorned middle class homes, thus becoming important symbols of status, wealth, and social order. As an ornament, this image is a symbolic reminder of time’s passage and mortality. The presence of sphinxes suggests a fascination with ancient cultures, particularly Egypt, which, in Northern Europe, existed as a powerful image in the imaginary. They could be seen as an allegorical representation of wisdom and mystery. To fully understand this woodcut, we can consult period books on symbolism and cultural history. This will provide insights into the social values and cultural references that shaped its creation. Ultimately, the meaning of this image is bound to the institutional and social contexts of its time.