Roof van Proserpina 1589 - 1608

Lucas Kilian created this print, "Roof van Proserpina," sometime around the early 17th century. The composition immediately strikes us with its dynamic arrangement of figures and forms. The scene is divided into earthly and celestial realms. The lower portion depicts nymphs in disarray, rendered with fine, curving lines that suggest movement and emotional turbulence. Above, the powerful horses pulling Proserpina's chariot are constructed with strong, bold lines, creating a sense of force and upward motion. Kilian masterfully uses the contrast between these linear treatments to highlight the tension between the earthly and divine realms. The organization of the image into distinct zones invites us to consider how meaning is constructed through visual structure. Is Kilian suggesting a hierarchy, or perhaps a disruption of established order through the abduction? The print challenges fixed interpretations, instead offering a space for ongoing visual and thematic negotiation.