Saturn Presiding Over Agriculture

Jan Pietersz Saenredam

1596

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From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

About this work

This engraving shows a towering, bearded figure holding a scythe, standing over a chaotic scene. Around him, people struggle with crops and animals while a woman in a hat looks on. The background has a stormy sky and a distant building. The scythe-wielding figure likely represents time or fate controlling nature. The artist used fine lines to create deep shadows and texture. Next, look up the technique: engraving, cross-hatching.