Os aan het spit, plaat 37 Possibly 1530 - 1699

Nicolaas Hogenberg’s print, "Os aan het spit, plaat 37", made sometime in the 16th century, depicts an ox being roasted on a spit before a crowd. As a Flemish artist working during the Reformation, Hogenberg was deeply attuned to the societal and religious upheavals of his time. Consider the spectacle of roasting an ox. It’s a very public display of consumption and feasting, reflecting the culture and values of the elite. How does this image play into or critique the opulence of the ruling classes versus the lives of the common people? The act of communal cooking and eating could represent shared traditions and social bonds, but it could also illuminate social inequalities through the imbalance of resources. Hogenberg’s work encourages us to consider the social dynamics of food, class, and public life in the 16th century. The print’s power lies in its ability to stir questions about power and everyday life, inviting a dialogue between then and now.