Naakte man met baard en hoofdtooi van rietstengels op de rug van een zeepaard

Salomon Savery created this print of a naked man with a beard and headdress riding a seahorse in the 17th century. During this period, the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power and artistic center. Savery presents us with an image that is rife with symbols of power, masculinity, and control over the natural world. The man, nude and virile, commands a mythical creature, which traditionally represents the untamed aspects of the sea. The seahorse is bridled, and the man steers it forcefully, suggesting dominion. This image also invokes classical mythology and embodies the complex relationship between humanity and nature. The nakedness of the man may refer to ideals of male beauty and strength which were pervasive during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Savery masterfully reflects and perpetuates the cultural values of his time, where masculinity, control, and exploitation of nature were prominently celebrated.