Mars doemt op bij op het land werkende putti 1722 - 1783

Simon Fokke made this print, "Mars doemt op bij op het land werkende putti," using etching. We see putti tilling a field while Mars looms in the background. It's a strange combination of imagery; the god of war watching over cherubic figures, and a reminder that art does not exist in a vacuum. This etching was made in the Netherlands, likely in the mid-18th century. It speaks to the Dutch Republic’s complex relationship with warfare at that time. The Dutch Golden Age had ended, but the Republic still maintained colonies and was involved in European power struggles. The image can be interpreted as a commentary on the relationship between war and prosperity or perhaps on the social and economic costs of maintaining a military presence. To understand this print better, we might research the printmaking industry in the Netherlands or the role of classical mythology in Dutch art. By exploring these sources, we gain a deeper understanding of this work.