Fries met de triomf van Neptunus 1548

Cornelis Bos created this print called 'Fries met de triomf van Neptunus' using etching in the Netherlands, sometime around 1550. In this period, the rise of printmaking was transforming artistic production and consumption. Bos, trained as a sculptor and engraver, uses the print medium to evoke a classical frieze, like something that might adorn a Roman temple. The sea god Neptune is shown in triumph, surrounded by sea creatures. But notice how the linear quality of the etching gives the scene a dynamic, almost restless energy. The image revels in ornament, a quality that would have appealed to collectors and other artists. Prints like these were easily portable, and helped to spread stylistic trends across Europe. As an art historian, I might research the dissemination of such ornamental prints and their impact on interior design in the 16th century. What can the Fries met de triomf van Neptunus tell us about the public role of images in the Netherlands?