Bilder Jacob Cats (1577–1660) – Playing Shuttlecock – Engraving (1630–1660)

Beskrivning

This engraving depicts a moralizing scene of a young man and woman playing a game of shuttlecock in a formal garden, featured within an oval frame for the work of Eerlicke Vryagie. The composition shows the couple in elegant contemporary attire using rackets to keep a feathered shuttlecock in the air, while a dog runs between them. In the background, other figures stroll through the manicured garden, which is adorned with classical statues and fountains. The illustration is accompanied by extensive multilingual text in Dutch, Latin, French, Italian, and Greek, including the Dutch heading Kaets of min en heeft geen val / Sonder over-gaenden bal, which serves as a metaphor for the back-and-forth nature of communication and mutual effort required in courtship. This work served as a technical plate within an emblem book intended to provide moral and social instruction on the dynamics of honorable romantic relationships through the combination of visual allegory and pithy sententiae.

Jacob Cats was a highly influential Dutch poet, jurist, and politician who became one of the most widely read authors of the Dutch Golden Age. He is best remembered for his emblem books, which combined moralistic verse with detailed illustrations to offer guidance on marriage, household management, and child-rearing. His works, often referred to affectionately as the Father Cats bibles, were staple household items in the Netherlands for centuries due to their accessible wisdom and relatable domestic themes. Beyond his literary success, Cats served in high government offices, including as Grand Pensionary of Holland, and his contributions to Dutch culture solidified his role as a primary voice for the ethical and social values of the seventeenth-century mercantile class.

Artist or Maker: Jacob Cats .

Dimensions: Approximately 39 cm x 25 cm .

Medium: Engraving .

Date: 1630–1660

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.