Giovanetti (met bloem in de hand) 1598

This is Christoph Krieger's "Giovanetti (met bloem in de hand)," a black and white print whose dimensions are 167 by 125 mm. The print is dominated by the figure of Giovanetti, standing in a decorative frame on a background of printed text. The visual experience of the artwork hinges on the detailed lines that delineate Giovanetti's attire—the ruff around his neck, the patterned fabric of his suit, and the soft drape of his cloak. The stark contrast between the black lines and the white of the paper heightens the details of his figure and the ornate border. Krieger’s emphasis on line and pattern invites a semiotic interpretation. The figure, adorned with symbols of status, and the decorative frame function as signs of the social codes and values of the time. The artist engages with the viewer not through color but through the complex interplay of pattern and form, challenging conventional notions of representation.