LI Et sic parantur opes 1614

This engraving titled, 'LI Et sic parantur opes' was created by Roemer Visscher around the turn of the 17th century and is held at the Rijksmuseum. Here, we observe two crossed fishing or possibly shrimping nets prominently displayed, tied together with what appears to be ribbons. In the Dutch Golden Age, such imagery was often emblematic, with nets symbolizing the procurement of wealth, and ribbons used to signify the ties that bind fortune to effort. Consider how the symbolism of the net extends beyond mere material gain. In earlier Christian iconography, the net was used as a metaphor for the church, ensnaring souls for salvation, a concept later echoed during the Reformation. This duality – wealth and salvation – reflects a deeper psychological tension. The nets, like memory itself, capture and sift, retaining what is deemed valuable while letting the rest slip away. The image reminds us of the cyclical nature of symbols, constantly reappearing, evolving, and carrying layers of accumulated meaning.