Wagen met een vrouw, geduwd door een man en getrokken door een man die op de rug van een beer rijdt c. 1552

This anonymous engraving depicts a whimsical scene of a cart pulled by unlikely characters. The composition arranges figures and ornate elements along a horizontal plane, creating a frieze-like effect. The contrast between the intricate, decorative details and the human and animal forms animates the image. Linear precision defines each shape, from the foliage to the musculature of the figures, giving a structured yet fantastical feel. What is most intriguing is how this piece destabilizes conventional hierarchies. A woman is in the wagon, drawn by a man riding a bear, while another pushes. The semiotic system is disrupted; the expected order of power and status is playfully inverted. This challenges viewers to reconsider fixed meanings. Ultimately, the engraving functions as more than mere decoration; it engages with cultural codes, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.