XL Zy micken al op 1614

This engraving by Roemer Visscher, dating back to the late 16th or early 17th century, presents two scenes side by side within an open book. Made with ink on paper, its contrasting patterns of dark lines and white space immediately draw the eye. On the right panel, we see a group of figures aiming bows and arrows, a dynamic scene rendered with stark lines that create a sense of movement. The figures are compact, their forms defined by dense hatching, giving the scene a focused intensity. To the left, there is a block of dense text with a corresponding title. The composition uses the linear structure of text and image to dissect a social commentary on greed and fortune. Visscher employs a semiotic system where the archers represent human desires, and the target signifies wealth. This engraving, with its interplay of text and image, challenges fixed meanings, inviting viewers to decode its message and reflect on the human condition.