Faam blaast de bazuin c. 1670

Gerard de Lairesse made this print, called "Fame sounding the trumpet," in the Netherlands, most likely around the turn of the 18th century. The image depicts a winged figure of Fame heralding some event, though what exactly she is celebrating remains unclear. The setting, with its classical architecture, is somewhat generic, but the central figure strongly evokes the visual language of the Dutch Golden Age. During this time, Dutch art often combined classical allegories with scenes of everyday life, reflecting the country's unique cultural and political climate. The Dutch Republic was a major economic and artistic center, and its art reflected its values of commerce, individualism, and civic pride. To fully understand this print, we might research the artist’s biography and examine other prints and paintings from the period. In doing so, we can come to better understand the codes, conventions, and social contexts in which de Lairesse and other Dutch artists were working. It would be interesting to know what, precisely, Fame is blowing her horn about!