LIV Och hoe slecht hebt ghy't 1614

This is a page from Roemer Visscher's emblem book, from the early 17th century in the Netherlands. The engraving illustrates the proverb "Och hoe slecht hebt ghy't," which translates to "Oh, how badly you have it." The image depicts a hand emerging from the clouds, holding an eel by its tail, dangling it over a landscape with a town in the background. The eel, a slippery fish, symbolizes the precariousness of relying on the favor of lords or the loyalty of the common people. Visscher critiques the social structures of his time, where one's fortune was often dependent on the whims of those in power or popular opinion. As historians, we can delve into the social and economic conditions of the Dutch Golden Age, examining the relationships between the merchant class, the aristocracy, and the general populace to better understand the nuances of Visscher's critique. By consulting period literature, political pamphlets, and economic records, we can reveal the depth of meaning embedded in this seemingly simple emblem.