Plate 1 c. 17th century

This is Plate 1, an etching by Stefano della Bella, created in the 17th century. The composition arranges itself horizontally, presenting a frieze-like scene of marine life emerging from a seemingly endless sea. Two figures, part human and part fish, hold a cartouche bearing an inscription. The artist uses line to define form, creating a delicate balance between the detailed figures and the open space of the water. The sea is populated by fantastical creatures; their intertwined forms suggest a world of constant transformation. There is no fixed boundary between human and animal, real and imaginary. Consider how the etching technique itself—the way lines are incised into the metal plate—mirrors this theme of emergence and fluidity. The lines themselves seem to ripple and flow, blurring the distinctions between solid form and the surrounding space. This evokes not just a visual representation but a conceptual space where categories are unstable and ever-changing.