Ovaal met parende herten c. 17th century

This is "Ovaal met parende herten," or "Oval with mating deer," an engraving by Paul (de Jonge) Flindt, created around the turn of the 17th century. Flindt was working during a time of great cultural and social change in the Netherlands, as the Dutch Republic was emerging as a major power. The overt sexuality of the deer set against the ruinous backdrop of the landscape may symbolize the complex relationship between desire, decay, and renewal. The deer, often seen as symbols of nature and instinct, are here depicted in an act of raw physicality. This contrasts with the crumbling architecture that speaks to the transience of human endeavor. One could see these ruins as an allegory for the body. The work asks us to consider the ways in which human and animal desires shape the world. The ornamental frame that surrounds the image serves to emphasize the tension between nature and artifice. Ultimately, the print invites us to reflect on the fleeting nature of life, and to contemplate the enduring power of desire.