XI Sin en wits 1614

This engraving titled "Sin en wits," or "Sense and wit," was made by Roemer Visscher in the Netherlands. Though undated, Visscher was active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a period of rapid social and economic transformation in the Dutch Republic. The image features a cluster of wheat encircled by a laurel wreath, suspended from a knotted cord. This emblem accompanied text that praised Bacchus and Ceres, the classical gods of wine and agriculture, for teaching people to cultivate the land and live together civilly. "Sin en wits" are equated with "Sinnelijckheyd en wetenschap," or "sensibility and science," suggesting that true understanding comes from the cultivation of both the senses and the intellect. As a historian, I am intrigued by how this image reflects the values of a rising merchant class, eager to display its knowledge and refinement. Further research into the publishing history and social context of this print may reveal its role in shaping early modern Dutch identity.