XXI Beter stil gestaen 1614

This engraving titled "XXI Beter stil gestaen" was created by Roemer Visscher, a merchant from Amsterdam, sometime between 1547 and 1620. It is found within a book titled "Van de Sinne-poppen" or "Of Foolish Images". "Better to stand still" is the message of this emblem book, in which a boy actively propels a hoop, yet the text suggests this activity is ultimately futile. The artist uses the image of a child’s playful activity to reflect upon questions of labor, societal expectations, and the human condition. Visscher's image speaks to a rising merchant class in Amsterdam, one in which the drive for upward mobility often superseded the emotional or physical well being of the individual. Consider how the act of propelling a hoop, typically seen as carefree, is presented here as a metaphor for unproductive labor. The image and text underscore a sense of emotional fatigue, prompting us to consider the societal pressures and personal sacrifices inherent in the pursuit of wealth and status.