Omlijsting 1650 - 1695

Gaspar Bouttats created this print, Omlijsting, at an unknown date. The composition is dominated by an oval shape in the center, surrounded by an elaborate architectural framework. The lines are precise, creating a sense of order, while the ornamentation gives it a somewhat baroque flourish. The image destabilizes the distinction between the functional and the decorative. Elements like columns and cornices, traditionally structural, are transformed into surfaces for elaborate ornamentation. This intertwining of structure and ornament challenges fixed categories, inviting us to reconsider how form relates to function. Notice how Bouttats plays with semiotic codes. The architectural motifs evoke classical ideals of order and reason, yet they're juxtaposed with more fantastical elements like grotesque figures, shells, and creatures. These create visual tensions, questioning any singular reading. The artwork encourages ongoing interpretation, highlighting the multifaceted and culturally contingent nature of art.