Apollo en Cyparissus c. 1636 - 1670

Crispijn van de Passe the Younger created this print, “Apollo en Cyparissus,” sometime in the 17th century. The composition is dominated by a scene of mourning. Look at how the figures of Apollo and Cyparissus are arranged around the slain deer, creating a triangle of grief. The use of line is particularly striking. Van de Passe employs fine, dense lines to build up shadow and volume, giving the scene a somber and textured feel. Consider how the dense forest in the background contrasts with the smoother skin of the figures, emphasizing their vulnerability and emotional exposure. This echoes the philosophical concerns of the time, where the human figure was seen as a site of both beauty and fragility. The semiotic system at play here involves classical mythology, but also the very human emotions of loss and regret. The print does not offer a fixed meaning, but allows for a complex interplay between aesthetic form and cultural narrative. It functions not just as an illustration, but as a profound reflection on mortality and the human condition.