Saturnus 1533

This engraving, Saturnus, was created by Heinrich Aldegrever in 1533. The composition centres on the figure of Saturn, who dominates the foreground with his muscular physique and flowing beard. He's caught in the act of holding a child upside down, ready to devour it, while his other hand grips a scythe. Aldegrever masterfully uses line and texture to create a sense of depth and drama. Note how the dense hatching in the background contrasts with the smoother rendering of Saturn's body, drawing our eye to the central figure. The composition is carefully structured to create a balance between the classical and the grotesque. This work is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of time and the anxieties surrounding mortality and power. The cyclical nature of time, embodied by Saturn, is here destabilized through the act of infanticide, reflecting a broader cultural anxiety about the future.