Salomo en de koningin van Seba 1557

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created this engraving, "Salomo en de koningin van Seba", at a time when the Dutch Republic was asserting its independence and engaging in global trade. This print depicts the biblical story of the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon, a narrative often interpreted as a meeting of different cultures and a demonstration of Solomon's wisdom and power. The Queen, who kneels before Solomon, would have been viewed through a lens of exoticism and curiosity, embodying the encounter between Europe and the cultures of the East. Coornhert was deeply involved in theological and political debates. His representations subtly challenged established norms. The Queen's journey could be seen as a metaphor for the exchange of knowledge and goods that fueled the Dutch Golden Age, yet it also prompts consideration of the power dynamics inherent in such exchanges. The print invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural exchange, and the negotiations of identity and power that occur when different worlds meet.