Targhe ed altri ornati di varie e capricciose invenzioni (Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 7) 1773

Jacob Floris created this print, "Cartouches and other ornaments of various and capricious invention, page 7," around the mid-16th century. The composition is dominated by an ornamental frame enclosing hybrid figures, all meticulously rendered through fine, precise lines. This use of line creates a visual texture that invites close inspection. Floris’s design reflects the Mannerist aesthetic, evident in the complex interplay of forms and the deliberate ambiguity of its figures. The central cartouche features a merman, a visual element that destabilizes traditional categories and expectations. Similarly, the symmetrical arrangement of putti and grotesque masks along the frame edges further underscores this tension between order and the bizarre. The print can be interpreted as a semiotic system, where each element contributes to a larger cultural discourse on ornament and the grotesque. Through his manipulation of form and symbol, Floris encourages us to reconsider fixed notions of beauty, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.