Diana en Endymion 1572 - 1582

This line engraving of 'Diana en Endymion' was created by Jonas Silber in Germany around the late 16th century. The print depicts the mythological story of the moon goddess Diana's love for the shepherd Endymion. The artwork uses visual codes to represent social and cultural values of the time. The setting, with its idealized landscape and classical architecture, reflects the Renaissance interest in classical antiquity. The detailed rendering of nature and the figures shows an appreciation for the natural world. The story of Diana and Endymion, a tale of divine love for a mortal, can be seen as a reflection on the social hierarchy of the time. Diana, representing the upper echelons of society, descends to meet Endymion, symbolizing the lower classes. To understand this work fully, we can consider various research resources, like historical texts on mythology and social studies. The meaning of art lies in its social and institutional context.