Saturn holding an Infant and a Scythe, from The Seven Planets 1533

This 1533 engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever depicts Saturn, the Roman god of time and agriculture, holding an infant and a scythe. The image, one of a series depicting the Seven Planets, emphasizes Saturn’s dual nature as both a nurturing and a destructive force. The infant symbolizes Saturn’s association with time’s cyclical nature, while the scythe represents the destructive power of time and death. The detailed landscape background and the use of cross-hatching techniques are characteristic of Aldegrever’s style. This artwork is a powerful depiction of time’s complex and sometimes paradoxical role in human existence.