Lucretia 1510 - 1520

This is Lucas van Leyden’s "Lucretia", a small but powerfully rendered engraving. The composition centers on the figure of Lucretia, poised in a moment of tragic resolve. The artist’s skilled use of line and hatching creates a rich surface, emphasizing the musculature of her form and the flowing cascade of her hair. The visual structure here plays with contrasts. The soft, organic lines of Lucretia’s body and hair are juxtaposed against the sharp, geometric forms of the pedestal and the cold, hard lines of the sword. This contrast serves to highlight the tension between her physical presence and the impending act of self-destruction. The engraving functions as more than a narrative illustration. Through the deliberate arrangement of lines and forms, Leyden encourages us to consider the broader themes of sacrifice, virtue, and the complex interplay between the body and the will. The piece serves as a powerful meditation on the structures of morality and representation.