Pyrame et Thisbé c. 17th century

Stefano della Bella created this etching, *Pyrame et Thisbé*, using ink on paper. Notice the artist's use of line, how it defines form and creates texture, effectively conveying light and shadow. The composition is dynamic, with the figures arranged in a triangular configuration that draws the eye upward from the body of Pyramus to Thisbe. The stark contrast between the detailed foreground and the sketchy background flattens the space, emphasizing the emotional intensity of the moment. The artist employs a semiotic system where gestures and poses function as signs. Thisbe's raised hand can be seen as a symbol of despair. Della Bella uses line and form to communicate themes of love, loss, and human tragedy in this work. The starkness of the etching medium underscores the finality of the lovers' fate.