Antique Satire Print-TITLE PAGE-OLD-NEW TIMES-Cats-1655

Original copperplate engraving on a verge type hand laid paper. Sheet has image and text on front and rear. on paper.

Size in cm: The overall size is ca. 24 x 40 cm. The image size is ca. 14 x 20 cm. Size in inch: The overall size is ca. 9.4 x 15.7 inch. The image size is ca. 5.5 x 7.9 inch.

Proverb / ethics emblem : ‘J. Cats. Spiegel van den Ouden en Nieuwen Tyt, van nieuws oversien, vermeerdert en verbetert. Elck Spiegle hem selven’. (Mirror of the Old and new Time, with news, extended and improved. Everyone mirrors himself.) This title plate shows an allegorical scene which represents the old and new times. Also banners and muses. fama, tempus, veritas, ratio, prudentia, memoria. (Fame, time, truth, ratio, law, memory.) This old antique engraved copperplate print originates from ‘Alle de Wercken van den heere Jacob Cats…..’, (Complete Works of Jacob Cats) which was published in various editions from 1655 on. The emblems depict lessons of many aspects of life. Each emblem typically has more than one meaning as Cats’ poems talk about ethics, wisdom and morale from the perspective of love, religion and society. His work has often been critisized, but contains a treasure of truth and symbolism, often as relevant as it was during the times of it’s creation. Artists and Engravers: The Author is Jacob Cats, also known as Father Cats (born Nov. 10, 1577, Brouwershaven, Zeeland, Spanish Netherlands – died Sept. 12, 1660, Zorgvliet, near The Hague) Dutch poet. A magistrate and high official, he was enormously popular as a writer of emblem books, consisting of woodcuts or engravings with verses possessing a moral. His Mirror of Old and New Times (1632) contains many quotations that have become household sayings in the Netherlands, and he used it to express the ethical concerns of Dutch Calvinists, especially about love and marriage. The famous poetry by Jacob Cats is often accompanied by well engraved images after the design of Adriaen van de Venne. Not all engravings have been signed, but engravers indicated include J. Swelinc, I. Matham, Wil. Hondius, C. v. Quiborne, D. v. Bremden & possibly others. This plate was engraved by D. v. Bremden.

Condition: Fine, given age. General age-related toning and/or occasional faint staining. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: ANTIQUE SATIRE PRINT-TITLE PAGE-OLD-NEW TIMES-CATS

(PCO) A189-37