Pharaoh and the Plague of Frogs 

Pierre II Woeiriot de Bouzey created this engraving, Pharaoh and the Plague of Frogs, sometime in the late 16th century. A chaotic profusion of lines defines the composition and produces a scene of unsettling drama. Notice how the geometric regularity of the architecture contrasts starkly with the organic disorder of the plague itself. The arches and right angles of the palace interior give way to the teeming mass of frogs invading Pharaoh's space. This juxtaposition creates a visual tension, destabilizing the presumed order of the kingdom. One can read the image semiotically; the frogs function as signs of divine retribution, challenging the values of power and hierarchy embodied by Pharaoh. In this print, Woeiriot uses the formal device of contrasting spaces and forms to explore broader philosophical themes. He questions the nature of power when confronted by uncontrollable forces, underscoring how art can serve as a potent medium for challenging fixed meanings.