XIV Ut ardentius 1614

This emblem, XIV Ut ardentius, was made by Roemer Visscher around the turn of the 17th century, and is found within a book. It shows a blacksmith’s forge with the motto ‘Ut ardentius’, or ‘that it may burn more fiercely.’ The Dutch Republic was a major centre of emblem books at this time. These books were a combination of image and text, often presenting a moral or philosophical idea. In this case, Visscher evokes the contemporary world of labour in order to provide a commentary on love. The motto speaks of a fire made more intense, while the text alludes to love. Is Visscher suggesting that passion burns brighter when obstacles are put in its way? To understand this image better, we can look at similar emblem books and the wider visual culture of the Dutch Republic, including the relationship between the guilds and the art market. Social and institutional contexts such as these can help us get closer to the original meaning of the work.