Fries met borstkuras tussen bladranken 1512 - 1560

This is a narrow, horizontal frieze made by Heinrich Aldegrever, an engraver active in the 16th century. The surface is dominated by meticulously rendered foliate scrolls. These organic forms create a symmetrical framework that houses contrasting motifs: a robust breastplate at the center, flanked by a satyr’s mask on one side. Aldegrever juxtaposes images of classical antiquity and Renaissance design. The composition strikes a delicate balance between naturalism and artifice, with the artist employing the tools of line and texture to create a visually complex surface. The arrangement of the forms within the frieze invites us to contemplate the relationship between decoration and meaning, a dichotomy often found in Northern Renaissance art. What could these juxtapositions mean?