Illustratie voor de Decamerone van Boccaccio 1697

This is an illustration for Boccaccio’s Decamerone, made by Romeyn de Hooghe, a Dutch artist, in the late 17th or early 18th century. De Hooghe was a prolific printmaker during the Dutch Golden Age, an era when the Netherlands was a hub of trade, scientific advancement, and artistic innovation. The illustration encapsulates the narratives of Boccaccio's Decamerone, a collection of novellas that offer insights into Renaissance society. Here, we see a scene that likely depicts one of the many tales of love, trickery, and adventure that characterize the book. The image creates meaning through visual codes. The figures carrying the man in a hammock are dressed in classical robes. The architectural setting evokes a romantic past and a sense of cultural sophistication. In the background, armed guards suggest a world of conflict and intrigue. To understand such works, the art historian relies on sources, literary and historical, to reconstruct the cultural context that shaped its creation and reception.