Water 1560 - 1600

This etching by Johann Sadeler I from the late 16th century depicts the personification of water, pouring water from a pitcher into a body of water. The figure is depicted with a head wreath of reeds and seated by a body of water, a sea monster and fish, a seashell and a distant city in the background. The etching is titled "Aqua," Latin for "water," and is a good example of Sadeler's work in the realm of allegorical imagery. The artist's attention to detail, as evidenced by the finely crafted details of the figures, plants, and animals, has made this a popular piece at the Rijksmuseum, where it is currently on display.