Term in the Form of an Old Man Warming His Hands 1535 - 1555

This engraving of an old man warming his hands was made by Jean Mignon in France around 1550. The image connects to broader social and cultural contexts by representing an "antique" figure surrounded by objects alluding to ancient religion and philosophy. We can unpack its meaning by examining how the image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. The figure’s garb marks him as a philosopher of antiquity, while the braziers reference pagan religious practice. We might ask, then, what was Mignon trying to say about ancient philosophy or paganism by combining them in this way? Was he interested in the "revival" of antiquity, as other artists and thinkers were at the time? Was he critiquing the rituals of the ancient world? Or was this, perhaps, merely an exercise in skillful engraving? These are questions we can try to answer through historical research. By studying the history of religion, philosophy, and printmaking in sixteenth-century France, we can better understand this engraving as a product of its time.