Bilder Jacob Cats (1577–1660) – Emblem of the Growing Name – Engraving (1627)

Beskrivning

"Sensim Amor Sensus Occupat" features a circular emblem depicting a tree with a name carved into its bark, which has grown larger and more distorted as the tree matured. The image serves as a metaphor for how love or vice, once small and barely noticeable, gradually expands to occupy the entire soul. This engraving is part of the work Proteus ofte Minne-Beelden Verandert in Sinne-Beelden, published by Pieter van Waesberge in Rotterdam. The surrounding text includes moralizing poetry and prose in Dutch, Latin, and French, supported by philosophical excerpts from Plutarch and Seneca to illustrate the gradual nature of emotional or moral change.

Jacob Cats was a celebrated Dutch poet, lawyer, and statesman who was a central figure during the Dutch Golden Age. He is best remembered for his didactic emblem books that combined everyday scenes with spiritual and ethical lessons for the common person. His writing style was characterized by its simplicity and practical wisdom, which made his books some of the most widely read in the seventeenth-century Netherlands. Cats also held high political office, serving as the Grand Pensionary of Holland, where he was involved in significant diplomatic and domestic affairs. His enduring influence on Dutch culture is reflected in his popular designation as the father of his people's moral literature.

Artist or Maker:
Jacob Cats.

Dimensions:
Approximately 36 cm x 25 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.