Slapende man opgeschrikt door allegorische figuren 1707 - 1740

Jan de Lairesse created this print, "Slapende man opgeschrikt door allegorische figuren," sometime between 1673 and 1716. The scene depicts allegorical figures startling a sleeping man, likely conveying a moral or philosophical message. Made in the Netherlands, this work is of the late Golden Age, a period of immense economic and cultural growth. During this time, Dutch art often served a didactic purpose, reflecting the values of a mercantile society and the influence of Calvinist morality. The presence of allegorical figures suggests an interest in classical themes, a common feature in Dutch art of the period as artists looked to legitimize their work by emulating the classical tradition. To fully understand this piece, one could research the popular moral themes of the time, as well as the influence of classical allegory on Dutch art and the role of the artist in conveying ethical values. The meaning of art is always rooted in the social and institutional contexts in which it is made.