20-års alderen (Ein Jungling) 1569

Balthasar Jenichen created this engraving, titled '20-års alderen (Ein Jungling)', around the late 16th century. During this time, societal roles were highly stratified and largely defined by age, class, and gender. Here, we see a depiction of youth, or more specifically, a young man at his prime. Note the glass in his hand, the flamboyant clothing, and the confident gesture – all symbols of prosperity and perhaps, a touch of recklessness often associated with youth. The presence of the camel is interesting; it may be a symbolic reference to the exotic and the life of travel and trade. It invites us to reflect on the social expectations placed on young men of that era, and how these expectations might have influenced their identities and behaviors. Consider how traditional gender roles are both reinforced and challenged in this work. The image serves as a historical mirror, reflecting both the aspirations and the constraints of a particular group at a particular time.