The Golden Age c. 1589

Hendrick Goltzius made this print, called 'The Golden Age,' sometime in the late 16th century. It's a vision of ideal harmony, drawn from classical mythology. These pastoral fantasies were especially popular in Northern Europe at this time. They gave visual form to a yearning for peace and prosperity, in societies deeply divided by religious conflict. Consider the institutions that sustained this production - the print workshops, the patronage of wealthy elites, the humanist schools that kept classical culture alive. Goltzius was a virtuoso engraver, and the image is a marvel of technical skill. But it's also a cultural artifact, reflecting the values and anxieties of its time. To understand it fully, we might consult historical sources such as contemporary literature, political pamphlets, and economic data. Artworks like this one offer a window into the past, but they require careful interpretation, attentive to the complex interplay of social forces and artistic expression.