Bilder Jacob Cats (1577–1660) – Inter Manum et Mentum – engraving (1627)

Beskrivning

This engraving features a circular emblem depicting a field of tall reeds swaying in the wind, set against a coastal landscape with a distant town and a small boat on the water. The scene is an allegorical representation of human fragility and the fleeting nature of fortune, as suggested by the Latin title Inter Manum et Mentum, which refers to the proverb "between the hand and the lip." The work was published as part of Proteus ofte Minne-beelden verandert in Sinne-beelden, a highly popular emblem book that combined moralistic, religious, and romantic themes through symbolic imagery and multilingual commentary. These emblems were designed to provide both aesthetic pleasure and ethical instruction, reflecting the deep cultural integration of visual symbolism in seventeenth-century Dutch society.

Jacob Cats was a renowned Dutch poet, jurist, and politician who remains one of the most prominent figures of the Dutch Golden Age. Often referred to as Vader Cats, he was celebrated for his moralistic poetry and emblem books, which were found in nearly every Dutch household alongside the Bible. Cats served in several high-ranking political offices, including Grand Pensionary of Holland, and his literary work focused heavily on domestic life, marriage, and Christian virtues. His ability to distill complex ethical lessons into accessible visual and poetic forms made him a defining moral authority of his era and a central figure in the development of Dutch national literature.

Artist or Maker: Jacob Cats and Adriaen van de Venne.

Dimensions: Approximately 25 cm x 17 cm.

Medium: engraving.

Date: 1627.

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.