Narcissus kijkt naar zijn spiegelbeeld in wateroppervlak 1660 - 1685

Coenraet Decker etched this image of Narcissus gazing at his reflection sometime in the late 17th century, likely in the Netherlands. Decker here is working within a visual culture that used classical mythology to explore questions of morality and human nature. The story of Narcissus was often interpreted as a cautionary tale about vanity, but Decker's print invites us to consider it within the context of the Dutch Golden Age. During this time, the Netherlands experienced immense economic growth and a flourishing art market. Artists like Decker found patronage among a wealthy merchant class, whose affluence was new. His Narcissus can then be seen to reflect a society grappling with new forms of wealth and self-image, as the rising class would have more time and resources to reflect on themselves and their place in the world. To understand such connections more fully, historians examine the print market of the time, the patronage system, and the social values expressed in other art forms.