Huilend kind bij een fontein 1628

This woodcut, titled "Weeping child at a fountain", was made by Christoffel van Sichem II in the Netherlands, sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th century. The image of a crying child with a figure pouring water into a fountain is based on emblem books that circulated at the time. These books combined images with text to convey a moral message. This emblem reflects the culture of the Dutch Republic, a society undergoing significant social and economic change. As a newly independent nation, the Dutch were keen to establish their own cultural identity. In the context of religious reform, emblem books and prints such as this, offered moral guidance and reinforced social norms. The Rijksmuseum, where this print is housed, plays a vital role in preserving and interpreting Dutch cultural heritage. By studying the print, along with related texts and objects, we can gain insight into the social and cultural values of the Dutch Republic and the role art played in shaping them.