Rechthoek met een ruit erdoorheen, in het midden staat Amor 1547 - 1612

Philips Galle created this ornament print, "Rectangle with a diamond through it, with Amor in the middle," sometime before his death in 1612, using engraving. Notice how the composition is structured around a central vertical axis, from the vase at the bottom to the caged bird at the top. The figure of Amor acts as a pivotal point. Galle employs symmetry not as mere duplication, but to create a complex interplay of forms and motifs. Animals – cats, deer, and snails – are rendered with a delicate precision that softens the architectural rigidity of the diamond and rectangle. The lines aren't just descriptive; they construct a space where natural and artificial elements merge. This challenges any simple reading of nature versus culture, ornament versus utility. Instead, it proposes a visual field where these categories blur, inviting viewers to reconsider fixed meanings. Ultimately, the print's enduring appeal lies in its structural tension, a testament to Galle’s ability to synthesize form and content.