Vulnus Alit. 

This is "Vulnus Alit," an engraving by Pieter Schenk, created around the turn of the 18th century. The stark contrast between the black lines and the white paper creates a visually arresting image, drawing our attention to the forms and figures depicted. The composition is structured around two figures: a woman seated and holding a cylindrical object, and a man standing beside her, leaning on the back of her chair. Schenk uses line and form to depict the elaborate clothing and hairstyles of the period, presenting them in a manner that emphasizes their artificiality. The intricate patterns and textures, rendered through fine lines, speak to the values of the era and draw out the artifice of the courtly setting. The title, "Vulnus Alit," which translates to "the wound nourishes," hints at the complex relationship between beauty, pain, and art. The image invites us to consider how outward appearances might conceal inner turmoil. The precise, controlled lines of the engraving underscore the tension between surface and depth, inviting a contemplation of art's role in revealing and concealing truths.