Lucretia steekt zichzelf dood in borst 1490 - 1557

Giacomo Francia made this engraving depicting "Lucretia steekt zichzelf dood in borst." The composition is stark, dominated by the figure of Lucretia, posed against an architectural backdrop. Francia’s use of line is striking; hatching creates a play of light and shadow across Lucretia’s body and the surrounding space. The lines create volume and texture. The curves of Lucretia’s body contrast with the straight architectural lines. Francia uses semiotic codes to engage with contemporary ideas about virtue and tragedy. Lucretia's suicide, a rejection of dishonor, is coded in the contrast between her vulnerable nudity and the cold geometry surrounding her. The controlled lines of the engraving itself mirror the discipline Lucretia asserts over her own body, signifying her ultimate act of self-determination. The drama is heightened by the sharp, linear quality of the engraving, emphasizing the tragic choice Lucretia embodies.